Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder - development and overview of diagnostic tools

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which is the most severe consequence of alcohol on the fetus in the prenatal period, has been described in the French medical literature by Lemoine in 1968. Five years later, Jones and his colleagues were the first researchers to show a link between alcohol abuse by pregnant women and specific characteristics of birth defects. This work formed a basis for further research to identify diagnostic criteria. Since that time, several proposals for diagnosis have been developed, aimed at an accurate survey of a wide range of physical and behavioural anomalies resulting from prenatal exposure to alcohol. The diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a real challenge. Patients after prenatal exposure to alcohol exhibit a wide range of symptoms, most of which are not specific only for prenatal intoxication and often manifest themselves in various ways throughout life. In Poland the diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is sporadic and because of the lack of access to objective diagnostic tools and professional literature in Polish the diagnosis is based on the investigator's subjective assessment and the diagnoses issued in different centres may differ. As a result, many people with FASD live without a correct diagnosis or as a result of misdiagnosis (e.g. autism, ADHD, behavioural disorders, etc.) they receive improper treatment. The purpose of this publication is to present the development of diagnostic methods in the world and in Poland with particular emphasis on 4-Digit Diagnostic Code.