urbanelf - 2012-05-18
Several characteristic craniofacial abnormalities are often visible in individuals with FAS. The presence of FAS facial features indicates brain damage, though brain damage may also exist in their absence. FAS facial features (and most other visible, but non-diagnostic, deformities) are believed to be caused mainly during the 10th and 20th week of gestation.
Refinements in diagnostic criteria since 1975 have yielded three distinctive and diagnostically significant facial features known to result from prenatal alcohol exposure and distinguishes FAS from other disorders with partially overlapping characteristics. The three FAS facial features are:
A smooth philtrum — The divot or groove between the nose and upper lip flattens with increased prenatal alcohol exposure.
Thin vermilion — The upper lip thins with increased prenatal alcohol exposure.
Small palpebral fissures — Eye width decreases with increased prenatal alcohol exposure.
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