Why are doctors saying that up to 90% of children with autism are infected with Lyme disease? The Lyme Induced Autism Foundation is holding a physicians' Think Tank on January 26-28th in San Diego, CA to discuss this recent finding.
Corona, CA (PRWEB) January 9, 2007 -- New reports indicate up to 90% of children with autism are infected with Lyme disease. With autism at a staggering 1 out of 166 children, parents are questioning this new finding.
Doctors and parents alike have been examining the potential causes of autism for years, some of which include thimerosol filled injections, environmental factors and most recently Lyme disease. With more doctors supporting the link between Lyme disease and autism, parents have joined forces to create the Lyme Induced Autism Foundation.
The foundation is holding a physicians' Think Tank on January 26-28th in San Diego, CA to discuss this recent finding. Co-founder Tami Duncan states, "The Think Tank is an opportunity to bring the Lyme disease specialists and the autism specialists together to create testing and treatment options for our kids." This is a groundbreaking effort which hopefully will analyze this even further to provide some answers to families.
Duncan says, "We are not saying that Lyme disease is the exact cause of autism for every single child. Let me clarify; what we are saying is that Lyme Disease could be an inciting factor that is suppressing the child’s immune system, which would make them more susceptible to heavy metal toxicity, environmental factors, etc. There are a large subset of autistic children in which this is happening. However, most children with Lyme Induced Autism cannot begin to heal until this infection is under control. Parents want their children healed of autism."
Where is the proof that Lyme disease is a factor in autism? Currently, several doctors have stepped forward talking about this. Dr. Warren Levin of Vienna, VA recently appeared on the online radio show on www.autismone.com hosted by Duncan called "The Lyme-Autism Connection". He stated that of the 10 children with autism he tested for Lyme disease, 100% of them also came back positive for Lyme disease.
But more proof is needed to convince parents and the medical community to take action. The Lyme Induced Autism Foundation has announced its first fundraiser called "Laughter for Healing" at the Improv comedy club in Irvine, CA on February 24th, 2007.
Duncan states, "The whole goal of the fundraiser is to raise money for our research program. We would like to fund a study that will test children with autism for Lyme disease to determine what actual percentage of children are infected. Only then will we be able to pull the top researchers and physicians together to come up with some answers. Lyme disease can be fatal, parents are scared, we need to help these kids now."
For more information on Lyme Induced Autism, please log onto www.lymeinducedautism.com. Interested parties may also purchase tickets or become a sponsor for the "Laughter for Healing" Improv comedy event online.
About Autism Autism is a disorder that currently affects 1 out of 166 children. Boys are the majority of those affected. The numbers of autism cases spiked in the mid-late 90’s and continues to remain high. The exact cause of autism is still unknown, however, many theories exist. Most children do improve with some sort of bio-medical intervention.
About Lyme disease Lyme disease is generally caused by a tick bite. Symptoms of Lyme disease include, achy joints, confusion, slurring words or word retrieval problems, brain fog, sensitivity to light and sound. Lyme disease in its late stage can be fatal, causing MS like symptoms and debilitating its victims. Treatment for Lyme disease consists of antibiotic therapy.
About the Lyme Induced Autism Foundation The foundation was started in September 2006 by parents of children with autism and Lyme disease. Kathy Blanco of Beaverton, OR and Tami Duncan of Corona, CA are the founders. The foundation's goals are to educate families and physicians on the link between Lyme and autism, bring physicians together to form a consensus for testing and treatment options and to provide funding for research studies related to autism and Lyme disease.
Contact information: Tami Duncan Lyme Induced Autism Foundation 1771 Honors Lane Corona, CA 92883 (951) 817-1173
Posts: 1538 | From Planet Earth | Registered: Jan 2005
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
I suspect many autistic children have a VIRAL, not bacterial, infection that either crossed the placental barrier OR they got a bad batch of the measles vaccine.
I personally know of 2 children who developed autism from (1)exposure as a newborn to siblings had the measles and (2) from the vaccine.
Posts: 9424 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
I think this is wonderful news for many children. I hope many researchers come on board and support this theory.
I take all three of my children to a well known pediatric lyme specialist is Connecticut and he has personally told me he has treated kids who were first labeled as autistic for Lyme. Now they are doing great and no autistic label on them.
I don't doubt that vaccines and other things can cause true austitism, However, I feel too many doctors are putting the austistic label or austistic specturm of disorders on children when they really have no idea what the child actually has. I have heard of numerous child who were speaking and completely normal and then suddenly they are autistic. Something had to happen to cause that after the fact.
It's almost like the label of Fibromalygia and Chronic fatigue that get put on previous healthy adults who suddenly are so ill.
I have a very strong suspicion that in a few years, many austitic kids will be proven to have lyme and/or one the the related coinfections.
In the mean time I only hope parents can really pursue every avenue they have to make sure their child is diagnosed properly.
My first son went through a million different diganosis and tests. His asthma or RAD they called it was horrible. Whenever he got a cold he went into spasms. They ruled out so many things including cystic firbosis. Later on I read in one of the pulmonologist's reports she thought there could be a possibly of an "immune comprimising organism." However, no doctor did a Lyme test on my child. He is 9 now, plays three sports, and is under the care of a saint of a doctor in Connecticut. I've thrown away the inhalers and neubulizers. He has been treated for Babesia and still is being treated for Lyme. He has come such a long way.
I guess my point is many labels can be put on our children, and we as parents have to make sure those labels or diagnosis are true. One does have to second guess the medical community.
Posts: 238 | From Bethlehem, PA | Registered: Oct 2004
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