Question

A woman presents to t he hospital in labor. She states that she has not had any prenatal care and has not changed any of her habits while pregnant. She delivers a child of normal weight, but his head is small, and his philtrum is smooth. On auscultation of the heart, a split second heart sound is noted both on inspiration and expiration.

Aside from a genetic or infectious origin, which of the following habits of the mother would most likely produce this clinical picture?
A. Drinking alcohol
B. Smoking cigarettes
C. Strenuous exercise
D. Taking thalidomide
E. Using cocaine

Answer 1

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is likely the cause of the described clinical picture, which includes a small head size, smooth philtrum, and split-second heart sound. Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy can disrupt fetal development and lead to physical and cognitive abnormalities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The clinical picture described in the question suggests a case of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which is caused by maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Alcohol crosses the placenta and can disrupt fetal development, leading to physical and cognitive abnormalities. One of the characteristic features of FAS is a small head size (microcephaly) with a smooth philtrum (the groove between the nose and upper lip). The presence of a split-second heart sound is also associated with alcohol exposure during pregnancy.

Drinking alcohol is the habit of the mother that is most likely to produce this clinical picture.