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Helping beautiful minds
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Autism is the new multi-system disorder on the rise in children. Padmini B. Patell looks into the cause, detection and cure
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FREEDOM'S PRICE? Mercury-laced vaccines can trigger autism Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy
Dr. Praveen. K. Saxenaa does not recollect coming across the word autism during his MBBS course. But when things did not seem quite normal with his first-born, he began to delve into possibilities. It was then that autism stared him in the face leaving him and his wife shattered. Having approached well-known doctors and even resorting to obscure remedies suggested by babas and pandits, the Saxenaas had no choice but to accept their child's autistic condition. After an indepth study, Saxenaa established a clinic for autistics in the city and much to his dismay the number of patients coming to him are on the rise. Fortunately, he can empathise with their parents with the sincerity of one who has walked the path.
A few years ago the word autism did not ring a bell, not even to medical professionals. Today, according to the WHO statistics, one out of every 500 children is affected by autism.
Autism, a lifelong developmental disability, manifests as a spectrum disorder - one that affects everyone differently. It is a multi-system disease, which could be neurological, gastrointestinal, endocrine, immune developmental and/or coupled with communication abnormalities.
Usually diagnosed during the first three years, it occurs four times more frequently in males than females.
The symptoms can include abnormal sensory response, social withdrawal, resistance to change, difficulty with skilled motor functions and disturbances in the rate of appearance of physical, social and language skills.
The causes for autism are somewhat unclear but research findings point towards a combination of environmental and genetic causes. The Institute of Remedial Intervention Services (IRIS), Chennai, recently organised a seminar in the city on `Autism Spectrum Disorders:
The Socially Challenged and the Social Challenge'. Guest speaker Dr. William Shaw, Great Plains Laboratory, USA, pointed out that, "Studies in USA have established a direct link between mercury levels and autism. Oncemercury was banned from vaccines administered to children there was a significant drop in the number of cases of autism.
Besides genetic factors, seafood and usage of coal also increases mercury levels in the body. We do not just need to cure autism we need to heal the planet."
Says Saxenaa, "A growing number of parents, doctors and governmental officials are recognising a possible link between the epidemic of developmental delays and the growing number of mandatory vaccines. I am certainly not opposed to giving safe vaccines, I am concerned about the growing number of chronically ill children."
He recommends single dose vaccinations after an infant is four months old and stresses the need for safety studies on vaccinations especially in families with an autoimmune history. He also seconds the questions raised by the Academy of Medical Specialties as to why India is accepting thimerosal vaccines, the very same ones that are rejected by USA and UK.
While health authorities are slow on the up take and cures are not visible on the horizon, it's the parents of autistic children who have to bear the cross. The reluctance of some parents in accepting the reality, social stigma, lack of family support, insufficient medical data, few doctors with expertise in this field, expensive treatment and limited main stream schools that integrate autistic children, every day brings new challenges.
The Parents Association for Autistic Children (PAAC) is a voluntary group that can help provide support and information. Their Autism Activity Centre in Defence Colony involves both mothers and children to work with facilitators to bring out talents and abilities in the child. Says Mythily Chari, founder IRIS "a child with autism needs early detection, intervention, right methodology and mother's nurturing."
If there is anything that always helps, it is knowledge. Better to be well informed than to be sorry. For information log on to www.autismindia.com or email autismpaac@yahoo.co.in.
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