Binge-drinking women putting more babies at risk

Cases of foetal alcohol syndrome on the rise after failure to deal with nation's drinking problem

The number of diagnosed cases of foetal alcohol syndrome in those born to women who drink during pregnancy has tripled since records of the debilitating condition were first kept 16 years ago.

In 2012-2013 there were 252 diagnoses of the syndrome, which can leave victims severely mentally and physically impaired, compared with 89 in 1997-98. Cases are up 37% since 2009-2010, Of those diagnosed in 2012-2013, the last year for which records are available, two out of five were aged one or under, according to the government's health and social care information centre.

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from Pregnancy | The Guardian http://ift.tt/1pTgvwF