Early medical history of children with autism spectrum disorders
Abstract
Previous studies have suggested that children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may have different medical histories than nonspectrum children in several areas: their reactions to vaccinations, number of ear infections, chronic gastrointestinal problems, and use of antibiotics. Furthermore, some studies have found associations between regressive autism and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. The present study analyzes the medical records from birth to the age of 2 years of 99 children (24 typically developing; 75 with ASD, of whom 29 had parent-reported regression). Data were coded in the following areas: frequency and purpose of pediatrician visits, frequency and type of illnesses and medications, type and chronicity of GI complaints, date of vaccinations, growth data, and whether the pediatrician noted behaviors indicative of an ASD before the age of 2 years. Children with ASD were found to have significantly more ear infections than the typically developing children as well as to use significantly more antibiotics. Typically developing children had significantly more illness-related fevers. There was a nonsignificant trend toward the ASD group having more chronic gastrointestinal problems. There were no significant differences between the groups for the age of vaccination or for number of pediatrician visits. Finally, pediatricians noted symptoms of onset of possible autism, including language delay, for 44 of the 75 children with ASD and 2 of the 24 typical children. Results are discussed in terms of needs for future research.
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GI disorders such as intestinal pain, constipation, and diarrhea are often associated with an altered composition of the gut microbiota.
“GI disorders such as intestinal pain, constipation and diarrhea are often associated with an altered composition of the gut microbiota [28,132,140,141,142].”
From Autism, Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Modulation of Gut Microbiota by Nutritional Interventions (2019) · cites this paper as [142]
Early antibiotic exposure is associated with ASD.
“Early antibiotic exposure, due in part to this population’s increased incidence of ear infections [73], is also associated with ASD [74] and perturbs the gut microbiota [9], leading to dysbiosis and gastrointestinal problems.”
From Pilot study of probiotic/colostrum supplementation on gut function in children with autism and gastrointestinal symptoms (2019) · cites this paper as [74]
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- Authors
- NIEHUS, R., & LORD, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Michigan (US)
- ORCID
- LORD, CATHERINE
- Venue
- Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
- Published
- 2006-04
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- Supplement 2
- Pages
- S120-S127
- ISSN
- 0196-206X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2055607877
- Cited by
- 152
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2025: 5 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 3.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (U19HD035482, U19 HD35482-01)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Down syndrome and intellectual disability research
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, medical history, regressive autism, ear infection, gastrointestinal problems, antibiotic use, vaccination, fever, language delay, early childhood, growth
- MeSH terms
- Attitude, Autistic Disorder, Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Communication, Ethnicity, Female, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Health Status, Humans, Intelligence Tests, Male, Medical History Taking, Nonverbal Communication, Social Behavior, Speech, Racial Groups
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