Autism
is a serious disease that
can affect any child
regardless of race or
gender. It is most often
diagnosed by the age of 3
years old, but there have
been cases in which autism
was first diagnosed in
teenagers and even adults.
In the cases of the teens
and adults, it was
determined that they had
previously suffered from
herpes encephalitis, and
that this was the probable
cause of their disorder.
However, this shows that
autism is not one of the
usual developmental
disorders.
More than a decade ago,
there was a theory proposed
that mercury contained
within vaccines in the form
of Thimerosal was the
primary cause of autism.
However, many studies in
both the U.S. and Europe
showed that even when
Thimerosal was removed from
a vaccine, autism still
occurred. Thimerosal is
still used as a preservative
in some adult vaccines. It
began to be removed from
vaccines for children in
1999, and as of mid-2000,
vaccines that are
recommended for universal
use in infants and young
children are available in
versions that have none or
only trace amounts of
Thimerosal.
Research has shown that
autism is triggered by at
least one of four currently
known causes. These are:
- a genetic abnormality
- a reaction to
environmental toxicity
- a viral infection
- a defect during
pregnancy in blood flow to
the developing fetus
(baby)
Of
these four, the common
opinion among researchers is
that genetic mutation either
before or after birth is
most often the underlying
cause. This genetic
abnormality may not be a
birth defect and instead
occurs after birth, as the
result of some foreign body
affecting the genes of the
child. However, all of the
above have in common the
fact that they result in
some form of a swelling of
the brain. It is this
inflammation of brain cells
that appears to bring the
onset of autism's symptoms.
Autism is a member of the
group of disorders called
"Autism Spectrum Disorders"
(ASD), and each person
affected with autism may
react somewhat differently.
However, autism most often
leads to identifiable
difficulties in
communicating with others,
with interacting socially
and with controlling
behavior.
Boys are much more likely to
be diagnosed with autism
than girls, because of
autism's relationship to
gene mutations. These
mutations occur on the X
chromosome. Since boys have
only one X chromosome, while
girls have two, they have a
greater probability of being
affected by autism.
Autism
affect's each child in their
own unique way, and can be
displayed via symptoms that
appear as mild to severe.
However, the vast majority
of children with Autism
Spectrum Disorders usually
have one or more of the same
symptoms, such as problems
with social interaction or
behavior control. The
differences are most often
shown in each child's unique
combination of when the
symptoms start, which
symptoms are expressed,
their level of severity, and
the exact cause of the
disorder.
Autism
diagnosis has been
increasing among
children at alarming
rates in the last few
decades. Even
seemingly healthy
children can suddenly
begin to show symptoms
of autism within the
first three years of
their life. When
first identified in the
mid-20th century, the
prevalence of autism was
1 in 2000 children. That
has changed over the
last few decades by
staggering proportions.
In
just the last decade
alone, the rate has
risen by 78% ! The
prevalence of autism is
now 1 in 88 children in
the United States, with
boys having an even
greater risk of autism,
with 1 in 54 boys
affected by this
disorder. These
statistics are shocking,
sad and frightening for
any parent, grandparent,
or concerned individual
to contemplate.
But why this huge
increase?
|
