Aggiornamento
Salute del bambino ed esposizione alcolica
CHILDREN HEALTH AND ALCOHOL EXPOSURE
Rosanna Mancinelli
Centro Nazionale Sostanze Chimiche, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma
Novembre 2011 - pagg. 565 -570
Abstract
New patterns of alcohol drinking are leading to a significant increase in alcohol damage.
Epidemiological data show lowering age of first alcohol use that in Italy is close to
12 ys, and an increasing number of female drinkers. The latest evidence indicates a higher
risk for female pathologies and for alcohol drinking during pregnancy with consequent
foetal alcohol exposure. In the western countries, prenatal alcohol exposure is the
main preventable cause of mental retardation in children. Alcohol produces negative effects
on foetal development globally defined FASD (Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders)
and the major consequence is FAS (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome). Recent epidemiological
studies show that FAS and FASD are present in Italy and are surely underestimated. Some
aspects of alcohol-related problems in paediatric age are discussed in the present
article together with recent perspectives in the study on new biomarkers. However, prevention
is the mainstay where paediatricians may have a pivotal role in recognizing
and treating alcohol disease in the newborn and in the early adolescent promptly.
Parole chiave
Classificazione MeSH
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Corrispondenza: rosanna.mancinelli@iss.it