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Is autism related to vaccinations?
The term “autism” some 50 years ago was used exclusively to describe the condition of patients with schizophrenia who were withdrawn. Only in recent years, autism began to be called mental disorders of children. Moreover, the very concept of “autism” is a collective folk name for a whole bunch of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
But because autism has been studied for a long time, it is surrounded by many myths. Scientists still disagree, even when discussing Causes of autism in children. The number of people suffering from ASD is growing every year.
DepositPhotos
If earlier specific oddities of a child were attributed to shyness or character traits, today it has become fashionable to look for ASD at any suspicion. In many ways, autism became popular after the spread of information about superintelligent children and adults suffering from autism. asperger syndrome. This is reflected in the movies. What, for example, is worth only the film “Rain Man” with Tom Cruise and Justin Hoffman.
DepositPhotos
Over time, technologies and capabilities have emerged to diagnose autism at an early stage. All this partly explains the rise in the number of ASD sufferers. The fact is that earlier most of the patients were simply not examined, so they were considered healthy by default.
The little-studied disease (the number of people suffering from which, although on paper, is growing rapidly) eventually became one of the favorite topics for speculation by fraudsters of all stripes.
DepositPhotos In the 90s, the movement of anti-vaccinators began to form and gain momentum - those who categorically opposed any vaccines and agitated against traditional medicine. These people offered their “miracle” drugs and unconventional ways of treating diseases, so discrediting the usual medical system was in their favor.
Then came the British gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield, who in 1998 in the popular medical journal “Lancet” published the results of his research. The data could shock any parent: the doctor found that vaccine from measles, rubella and mumps causes autism in the child.
DepositPhotos
The sensation blew up the scientific world. The scientists rushed to repeat Andrew Wakefield’s research... but they failed. No one was able to find what the British had discovered. When Andrew's results were rechecked, they found many inconsistencies. Even the diagnoses of the patients he studied did not coincide with reality.
It soon became clear that Andrew Wakefield was either grossly wrong or was an ordinary charlatan who had fooled the world. The doctor's relationship with the vaccinationistThey have been funding it since 1996.
DepositPhotos
As a result, Andrew Wakefield was accused of dishonesty and banned from practicing medicine in the UK. And his sensational study was recognized as the largest medical scam in the last 100 years, which undermined the universal trust in safe and necessary vaccination.
Against this background, new researchers appeared, who found in vaccines thimerosal — mercury compound, which allegedly also autism. And although the concentration of the substance was meager, and public fears were groundless, thimerosal was removed from the vaccines.
Vaccines have been picked on more than once, but each time, researchers have been unable to find anything worth paying attention to. The real causes of autism remain unclear, although many scientists are inclined to believe that the disease is hereditary. Genetic features affect the structure of the brain, which further contributes to the development of childhood autism.
DepositPhotos
But so far, it exists at the level of theories and discussions. There are many varieties of autism, which only complicates the work of researchers, and therefore the burden of responsibility for the health of the child again falls on strong parental shoulders.
“Contemporary science has no precise explanation for the causes of autism. Therefore, the main thing is that parents notice the symptoms in time and consult specialists, says Dr. Komarovsky.
Parents need to be attentive, but do not succumb to mass hysteria. Pay attention to the characteristics of your baby and, if possible, consult a doctor. Remember that many health problems are easily identified by appearance.
What do you think? autism? Tell me in the comments.
But because autism has been studied for a long time, it is surrounded by many myths. Scientists still disagree, even when discussing Causes of autism in children. The number of people suffering from ASD is growing every year.
DepositPhotos
If earlier specific oddities of a child were attributed to shyness or character traits, today it has become fashionable to look for ASD at any suspicion. In many ways, autism became popular after the spread of information about superintelligent children and adults suffering from autism. asperger syndrome. This is reflected in the movies. What, for example, is worth only the film “Rain Man” with Tom Cruise and Justin Hoffman.
DepositPhotos
Over time, technologies and capabilities have emerged to diagnose autism at an early stage. All this partly explains the rise in the number of ASD sufferers. The fact is that earlier most of the patients were simply not examined, so they were considered healthy by default.
The little-studied disease (the number of people suffering from which, although on paper, is growing rapidly) eventually became one of the favorite topics for speculation by fraudsters of all stripes.
DepositPhotos In the 90s, the movement of anti-vaccinators began to form and gain momentum - those who categorically opposed any vaccines and agitated against traditional medicine. These people offered their “miracle” drugs and unconventional ways of treating diseases, so discrediting the usual medical system was in their favor.
Then came the British gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield, who in 1998 in the popular medical journal “Lancet” published the results of his research. The data could shock any parent: the doctor found that vaccine from measles, rubella and mumps causes autism in the child.
DepositPhotos
The sensation blew up the scientific world. The scientists rushed to repeat Andrew Wakefield’s research... but they failed. No one was able to find what the British had discovered. When Andrew's results were rechecked, they found many inconsistencies. Even the diagnoses of the patients he studied did not coincide with reality.
It soon became clear that Andrew Wakefield was either grossly wrong or was an ordinary charlatan who had fooled the world. The doctor's relationship with the vaccinationistThey have been funding it since 1996.
DepositPhotos
As a result, Andrew Wakefield was accused of dishonesty and banned from practicing medicine in the UK. And his sensational study was recognized as the largest medical scam in the last 100 years, which undermined the universal trust in safe and necessary vaccination.
Against this background, new researchers appeared, who found in vaccines thimerosal — mercury compound, which allegedly also autism. And although the concentration of the substance was meager, and public fears were groundless, thimerosal was removed from the vaccines.
Vaccines have been picked on more than once, but each time, researchers have been unable to find anything worth paying attention to. The real causes of autism remain unclear, although many scientists are inclined to believe that the disease is hereditary. Genetic features affect the structure of the brain, which further contributes to the development of childhood autism.
DepositPhotos
But so far, it exists at the level of theories and discussions. There are many varieties of autism, which only complicates the work of researchers, and therefore the burden of responsibility for the health of the child again falls on strong parental shoulders.
“Contemporary science has no precise explanation for the causes of autism. Therefore, the main thing is that parents notice the symptoms in time and consult specialists, says Dr. Komarovsky.
Parents need to be attentive, but do not succumb to mass hysteria. Pay attention to the characteristics of your baby and, if possible, consult a doctor. Remember that many health problems are easily identified by appearance.
What do you think? autism? Tell me in the comments.
