Yet another pile of doo-doo from Offy the giant rat...

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http://www.wtvq.com/health/5048-autism-vaccine-controversy-.html

The theory that vaccines

cause autism has triggered heated debate. Now one expert says, for the safety

of children, it’s time to expand the search for causes.

Autism is a complex

developmental disorder that affects brain functioning. While there are

different levels of severity, children show signs in three key areas: social

interaction, communication (verbal and nonverbal) and behaviors and/or

interests. Signs typically become evident by the age of three, but in mild

cases, the condition may not be diagnosed until adolescence or early teen

years.

According to the Autism Society of

America, autism occurs in about one out of every 150 children. Boys are

affected about four times more often than girls. Currently, about 1.5 million

Americans are living with some form of the disorder. The organization Autism

Speaks estimates over $35 billion is spent annually for therapy, education and

care of children and adults with autism.

The exact cause of autism isn’t known

and there is no cure. If children are identified before starting kindergarten,

they can receive early intervention services to help them succeed in school.

The CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) both hold the stance

vaccines are safe and necessary to prevent illness.

To see the CDC's information sheet and FAQs on Vaccines click here.

To read the AAP's answers to common questions parents have about autism,

including a possible link to vaccines click here.

The Vaccine Controversy--Another Side of the

Ongoing Debate

About ten years ago, a few researchers believed they had found a link between

administration of the Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) vaccine and onset of autism

symptoms. Some parents had reported their children were developing

“normally” until they received their MMR shot. Though there was no

way to scientifically prove the vaccines were the cause of the autism symptoms,

parents suspected there could be a link. Some cite the use of

the vaccine preservative, thimerosal, as the trigger of autism. Others believe

the vaccine itself somehow triggers autism. There are also people who say

autism may be triggered by the use of too many vaccines in a short period of

time and at a young age.

Not everyone agrees with the belief that

autism is linked to vaccines. Offit, M.D., Infectious Disease Expert with

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, says there is still no scientific

evidence to link autism to thimerosal or the MMR vaccine. He points out that since

2001, thimerosal is no longer used in routine childhood vaccines (except for

the flu vaccine). Yet, the number of autism cases continues to rise. Large

studies in the U.S. and Denmark have followed children for several years and

found no association between MMR vaccination and the development of autism.

Offit is concerned that parents who fear the

risk of autism will avoid getting routine immunizations for their children.

Having large numbers of unprotected children could be devastating to public

health. For example, before the availability of the Hib vaccine, roughly 600

children in the U.S died every year from bacterial meningitis. Many of those

who survived the illness had lingering complications, like deafness, seizures

and mental retardation. Before the availability of the measles vaccine, the

disease infected 3 to 4 million people every year and killed one out every 500

to 1,000 of them.

Offit says, although he understands

parents’ concerns about risk for autism, those who skip routine childhood

immunizations are trading an unproven risk for a potentially dangerous risk of

illness or death from a preventable disease. In addition, unvaccinated children

can spread many preventable illnesses to those who are most vulnerable to

serious complications and death, like the very young, the very old and those

with weakened immune systems.

Offit has written a book, called

Autism’s False Prophets, to help educate parents and the public about the

science of autism. He says that while the cause is still unknown, research

strongly points to a genetic basis for the disorder. In fact, investigators at

the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of

Philadelphia recently discovered a common gene variant linked to autism.

Molecular Geneticist Gerry Schellenberg, Ph.D., says that though the findings

are encouraging, more than one gene is believed to be involved in the disorder.

So there is much more research to be done in looking for clues for autism

development.

Autism’s False Prophets, is published by

Columbia University Press. It lists at $24.95 and can be purchased through

bookstores or online retailers. Offit is donating the royalties he earns from

the book to autism research.

AUDIENCE INQUIRY

Autism’s False Prophets, is published by Columbia University Press:. It

lists at $24.95 and can be purchased through bookstores or online retailers.

For more information on vaccine safety visit

the vaccine education center at www.vaccine.chop.edu

For general information on autism:

Autism Society of America, http://www.autism-society.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, http://www.ninds.nih.gov