Could a child have fetal alcohol syndrome from something other than alcohol?

No: It is related to prenatal use of alcohol.

Specific findings: The original FAS reports in the 1950's involved offspring of alcoholics in france, many of whom died within a year of their addiction.Assessment of kids today is complicated because many of the milder cases will occur to mothers who abuse many agents, so additional features may be present.However, alcohols toxic effect follows a pattern.

Probably: We now tend to use the term isam. This stands for infant of substance abusing mother. The exact extent of drug and alcohol exposure is not possible to document. In addition there is often malnutrition and other poor health habits and occult infections that cause effects on the fetus. The subsequent child may have complex physical and behavioral problems. To blame only alcohol may be wrong.

See link: www.fasdcenter.samhsa.gov has a full explanation. Alcohol has to be ingested by a pregnant woman, cross the placenta, and be distributed in the fetal circulation to cause fasd's. The fetal brain starts forming around 3 weeks' gestation, often before pregnancy is diagnosed.There is no safe amount nor safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy, so it"s important to stop as soon as you know.