9 / 23
Volume 4
Journal of Pediatric Care
ISSN: 2471-805X
Page 23
JOINT EVENT
August 06-07, 2018 Madrid, Spain
&
2
nd
Edition of International Conference on
Adolescent Health & Medicine
18
th
International Conference on
Pediatrics Health
Pediatrics Health 2018
&
Adolescent Health 2018
August 06-07, 2018
Luckenson Chery, J Pediatr Care 2018, Volume 4
DOI: 10.21767/2471-805X-C3-011
Alcohol's effect on pregnant mothers: A study
Luckenson Chery
Centro Medico Dominico Cubano, Dominican Republic
Epidemiology:
According to WHO estimates 3.3 million deaths every year result from harmful use of alcohol, this represents
5.9 % of all deaths. Alcohol consumption causes death and disability relatively early in life. In the age group 20 – 39 years
approximately 25 % of the total deaths are alcohol attributable fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), alcohol use is also associated with
an increased risk of acute such as injuries, including from traffic accidents However, it's also known that alcohol consumption
especially in excess is linked to a number of negative outcomes: as a risk factor for diseases and health impacts; crime; road
incidents; and for some, alcohol dependence. The Frequency of fetal alcohol syndrome is 2–5% (US, EU). The five countries
with the highest prevalence of alcohol use during pregnancy were Ireland (about 60%), Belarus (47%), Denmark (46%), the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (41%) and the Russian Federation (37%) The alcohol
• High consumption around the world
• Decreases vital functions
• Depressor of the central nervous system (CNS)
• Legal Drug
There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant. These disabilities are known
as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).
Children with FASDs might have the following characteristics and behaviors:
• Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip (this ridge is called the philtrum)
• Small head size (Microcephaly)
• Low body weight
• Poor coordination
• Hyperactive behavior
• Difficulty with attention
• Poor memory
Alcohol Metabolism in Pregnancy: Alcohol is metabolized in:
• Liver 90%
• Lungs 5%
• Stomach 2.5%
• Intestine 2.5%
Mechanisms of action:
• Depressor of the central nervous system (CNS)
• Facilitates GABAergic neurotransmission ((gamma aminobutyric acid)) by increasing the entry of chlorine through the
GABAA receptor.
• By increasing the action of GABA, alcohol diminishes functioning of neurons, which is why it is classed as a depressant
drug because it depresses activity
• Acute alcohol consumption increases the release of endogenous opioids such as endorphins, enkephalins and dynorphins
The region’s most susceptible to the effect of alcohol
• Prefrontal Cortex
• Cerebellum