Fetal alcoholism, a taboo that lasts and still causes damage in more than one in 100 babies



It is an acronym, rather unknown but which is nevertheless the first cause of non-genetic mental handicap in children. The SAF, or fetal alcohol syndrome, affects one in every 1,000 babies born in French maternity hospitals each year. In addition to these, who present serious growth delays, malformations of the heart but also of the brain, they are even more numerous (one or even two babies in 100) to later develop milder cognitive disorders, such as hyperactivity, language or self-control problems. Various manifestations, which can appear in adolescence or even in adulthood, but linked to one and the same cause: the mother’s alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

If these figures remain so high, it is because the subject remains “taboo”, estimates the association. Saf France, which is organizing various preventive actions this Thursday on the occasion of the International Day of Fetal Alcohol Disorders. “We must stop pointing the finger at the sole responsibility of mothers, a guilt that prevents sensitizing the rest of the population, said Denis Lamblin, its president. It is not just a health problem, it concerns the whole of society because it can explain school failure, delinquency, or social exclusion of those affected. Let’s invest in this topic because it’s preventable problems. “

Tenacious received ideas

Except that since its discovery in the 60s, fetal alcohol syndrome suffers from well-established misconceptions. “At the time, we said that it could not exist, that on the contrary, drinking a small beer was good for the baby and for breastfeeding,” explains Dr Georges Picherot, former head of the pediatric department of the CHU de Nantes. From the outset, we did not want to look at what has become a major problem. Sixty years later, the ignorance does not seem to have dissipated very much. According to a recent study commissioned by the association, only a quarter of general practitioners say they know precisely what it is, while half of French people have never heard of it. It must be said that to the embarrassment of discussing it is added the difficulties of diagnosing these disorders, which often lead to medical wandering.

It is also difficult to know the audience to target: because FAS does not only concern expectant mothers with a strong alcohol addiction, there are also those who continue to party occasionally, sometimes encouraged by their relatives, who underestimate the risks. “It is not rare to hear in the evening that a small drink is allowed, that it is not very serious, notes Dr. Catherine Maingueneau, pediatrician in neonatology at the Jules-Verne clinic in Nantes. However, we should really go towards zero alcohol from the desire to conceive. “

Prevent in high schools and bars

According to specialists, the risks of poisoning the fetus exist even at a very low threshold, regardless of the stage of pregnancy. However, for those who would have had a few sips before knowing they were pregnant, “there is no reason to panic” but it is recommended that you speak with a healthcare professional.

For Saf France, the goal is for the number of cases to “decrease drastically” over the next five years. The association, which hopes that the public authorities will take up the subject, intends to raise even more awareness among adolescents, especially in middle and high schools, without forgetting the general public. To do this, it has partnered with the hospitality industry trades union (UMIH) to get its messages across in bars and restaurants.



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