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ICD-Code Q86.0: Fetal alcohol syndrome (dysmorphic)

During development in the womb, the consumption of alcohol by the mother caused damage to health.

Alcohol travels around the entire body in the bloodstream and damages the cells. If the mother drinks alcohol during pregnancy, the alcohol enters the baby's bloodstream through the placenta.The placenta forms in the mother’s womb during pregnancy. The placenta consists of cells from the mother and cells from the unborn child. The umbilical cord connects the child to the placenta.The baby’s body is not able to break down alcohol in the same way that adults can.

Alcohol consumption by the mother has caused damage to health. Alcohol interferes with the development of the baby's organs. This can result in birth defects. The brain is particularly susceptible to this type of damage. The heart and kidneys may also be affected. Alcohol can also restrict growth. As a result, the child may be smaller and lighter than other children of the same age.

Exposure to alcohol during development may also cause changes to the baby's head or face. The head may be smaller than usual as a result. The eyelids may have an abnormal shape or droop downwards. The lips may be especially thin and the area above the lips may be flatter than normal.

The health damage caused by alcohol during pregnancy also includes intellectual impairment. Sight or hearing may also be impaired. The condition can also cause epilepsy. Epilepsies are disorders that cause recurrent brain seizures.

Additional indicator

On medical documents, the ICD code is often appended by letters that indicate the diagnostic certainty or the affected side of the body.

  • G: Confirmed diagnosis
  • V: Tentative diagnosis
  • Z: Condition after
  • A: Excluded diagnosis
  • L: Left
  • R: Right
  • B: Both sides
Further information

Note

This information is not intended for self-diagnosis and does not replace professional medical advice from a doctor. If you find an ICD code on a personal medical document, please also note the additional indicator used for diagnostic confidence.
Your doctor will assist you with any health-related questions and explain the ICD diagnosis code to you in a direct consultation if necessary.

Source

The explanation of the ICD code was provided by the non-profit organization “Was hab’ ich?” gemeinnützige GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG).