Pediatrician monitors rise in autism

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: July 04, 2008 12:33 amPediatrician monitors rise in autismBY BARBARA GREENBERGDANVILLE — Although autism has become a hot topic, it wasn’t always consideredworthy of discussion.Years ago, parents whose children exhibited some of the symptoms that have cometo signal the developmental disorder were blamed for their youngsters’ atypicalbehavior. These parents were thought to be distant, if not cruel, to theiroffspring.That stigma has been lifted, but the number of children diagnosed with autismhas increased.Danville pediatrician Dr. Elghammer said that in 1960, the Centers forDisease Control & Prevention reported three cases of autism for every 10,000births. In 2007, that number escalated to one case for every 150 births.“Autism itself is more common today,” he said, “but so is overcoming it.”Elghammer has studied autism since 1985 when he first began seeing it in hispatients. A member of a national organization called Defeat Autism Now, he keepsup with the latest research and theories on the causes and treatments of thecondition.His office staff does the same. Head nurse Becky Shaw has completed coursesrelated to the condition and sees the results of certain treatments used in thepractice.“It’s amazing to see kids come in and be totally nonverbal before treatment,”Shaw said. “Then the parent calls, so excited. The child has just said theirfirst word. They’re 12-years-old.”Right now, Elghammer believes strongly that the routine vaccinations youngchildren receive may be responsible for the increase in autism.Elghammer pointed to a story in the June 30 Chicago Tribune about the linkbetween autism and vaccines.“Studies have failed to show any link between vaccines and autism,” the Tribunestory said, “but many parents are convinced that the vaccines — usually givenaround the time autism becomes apparent — are to blame.”But recent cases involving a 9-year-old girl who developed autism followingnumerous vaccinations and a 6-year-old who died after a FluMist vaccine ledexperts to speculate that some link may exist.One theory is that “vaccines may cause and contribute to an underlyingmitochondrial disorder, which in turn causes autism,” the Tribune reported.Elghammer said “Immunizations may be fine for 99 percent of the population. Iwouldn’t change anything for children during their first year, just follow thesame routine.“But I suggest that everyone delay their children’s boosters until they’re2-years-old. By that time, autism will have manifested itself.”