Treatment and Prevention
Fortunately, FAS and FAE are completely preventable conditions. A pregnant woman can prevent FAS and FAE in her baby by not drinking any alcohol at any point during pregnancy.
If a woman discovers that she is pregnant after consuming alcohol, abstaining from drinking alcohol from that point on is the best solution. By doing so, further damage to the baby is prevented.
The main things a woman can do to prevent FAS and FAE include:
- not drinking any alcohol at all during pregnancy
- not drinking any alcohol if you are trying to become pregnant
- seeking medical or professional help if you drink regularly and can't stop while pregnant
There is no way to reverse the damage of prenatal alcohol exposure. The mental and physical deficiencies associated with FAS and FAE last a lifetime. However, there are ways to help people with FAS or related conditions.
Children with FAS and FAE require good nutrition to help them grow and develop. As the child grows, parents can manage behavioral problems associated with FAS or FAE by:
- learning as much as possible about the condition
- seeking help from trained professionals
- educating teachers and family members
- finding support groups in the community
- setting rules for the child and enforcing those rules
- rewarding acceptable behavior
- providing the child with set daily routines
Medication is available to treat certain behavioral problems such as hyperactivity and attention deficit disorders (ADD) in children with FAS. Medications such as dextroamphetamine sulfate* and methylphenidate treat attention deficit and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD).
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
John Goldenring, MD, MPH, JD, Pediatrics, Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, San Diego, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.