health

Babies born with FA typically have low birth weight. Three-fourths of
all people with FA have visible birth defects, too. Altered skin pigment
known as café au lait spots for their light brown color is characteristic.
Many children with FA are short and have small heads. They may also
have abnormal thumbs, eyes, and ears, along with impaired sight and
hearing. Multiple internal organs may also be defective, such as the kidneys,
gastrointestinal tract (often esophagus, small intestine, or anus),
heart, or lungs.
As children with FA continue to grow, bruises and small blood hemorrhages
under the skin may be the first sign of blood problems associated
with aplastic anemia and suggest platelets deficiency. These individuals
have pale skin and tire easily, which is caused by red blood cell deficiency
and decreased oxygen delivery to tissues. Frequent infections are caused
by white blood cell deficiency.