Serious problems for the baby if the mother drinks (even slightly)

The Italian 7.6% of infants in the womb has been exposed to alcohol and hence an increased risk of developing physical and behavioral deficits and neural fetal alcohol syndrome. He established the first study on the topic in Italy, conducted by the Institute of Health (ISS) in collaboration with neonatologists 7 of the same number, different cities. "In Rome, the 29.4% of infants had contact with alcohol in utero, the rate falls in the North-East (zero in Verona)," says Simona Pichini, ISS researcher and head of the investigation. "These differences reflect the effectiveness of information campaigns, plan more carefully just where alcohol is more widely used."

The most prominent features of fetal alcohol syndrome , such as certain facial features and severe neurological and behavioral deficits are associated with heavy alcohol consumption. "But there is a threshold below which alcohol intake during pregnancy can be said to be safe," says the expert. "Even a moderate daily use, which in other stages of life is considered normal, can cause learning disabilities, hyperactivity disorder, aggressive and violent behavior during adolescence, socialization problems and growth retardation. For this reason, we recommend to women who expect a child to refrain from alcohol completely. Even the exception of one night can be dangerous, if at that very moment the fetus is developing somewhere in the nervous system. " Early diagnosis is crucial because timely intervention can limit the damage. "To increase the alert among the doctors we have produced a guide to help in the diagnosis," concludes Simon Pichini.