Inter American University of Puerto Rico

Metropolitan Campus
Carmen Torres de Tiburcio School of Nursing

Nursing Studies

Epidemiology and Possible causes of Autism

Fundamentals of Pediatrics – CRN 4272

Professor: Lydia R. Rivera.

Manuel A. Láncara

M00299933

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 Objective

To review, express and create my own opinion base on research and studies done on

epidemiology and the possible causes of autism. These reports are from three countries

including the U.S and they compare the medical diagnose and drug therapy from new series

of autistic children’s (mostly boys) and their mother compared to the non-autistics boys and

their mothers.

According to the article, the incidence with boys diagnosed with autism rose since 1990’s

drastically claiming that the vaccine of MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) could have or not be

responsible for this large rise of the diagnosis. In theirs studies they also stated that the boys

studied in this research diagnosed with autism had medical and drug histories such as vaccine

before diagnosis that were closely similar to those with non-autistic boys, except that

developmental and sensory disorder were far more common in the autistic boys. During this

reading, no diets or food intake from either mother or boys were discussed or talked about

which in my believe diet have a big role and a positive action as well.

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 What is Autism?

Autism is a bio-neurological developmental disability that generally appears before the age of 3.

Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction,

communication skills, and cognitive function. Individuals with autism typically have difficulties

in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities.

Individuals with autism often suffer from numerous physical ailments which may include:

allergies, asthma, epilepsy, digestive disorders, persistent viral infections, feeding disorders,

sensory integration dysfunction, sleeping disorders, and more.

Autism is diagnosed four times more often in boys than girls. Its prevalence is not affected by

race, region, or socio-economic status. Since autism was first diagnosed in the U.S. the

occurrence has climbed to an alarming one in 150 people across the country.

Autism does not affect life expectancy. Currently there is no cure for autism, though with early

intervention and treatment, the diverse symptoms related to autism can be greatly improved.

What is in the Vaccine?

The primary preservative found in vaccine is Thyomersal, known in the U.S as thymerosal,

which is very toxic by inhalation, ingestion, and in contact with skin (EC hazard symbol T+),

with a danger of cumulative effects. It is also very toxic to aquatic organisms and may cause

long-term adverse effects in aquatic environments (EC hazard symbol N). In the body, it is

metabolized or degraded to ethylmercury (C2H5Hg+) and thiosalicylate, which it has been used

since 1930’s, later on the 1980’s the CDC informed of the rising of autism after the finding of

this chemical in the vaccines. Some cases not reported, has been know of causing Aspurger’s

Syndrome, a slight form of autism also, that translate to the children’s were injected with

about 400 time the amount of mercury that the FDA considered safe. Along with other

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 chemicals such as Formaldehyde – (mercury and aluminum compound), Phenol – (carbolic

acid) borax- (ant killer), Acetone – (solvent- polish remover) disinfectants glycerin organic

and Antifreeze- MSG and several other poison, plus several other toxics when mixed with

blood.

This includes:

Animal organ tissues and blood – (eg. monkey, cow, chicken, pig, sheep, etc)

Contaminant animal viruses- (eg. SV40, which causes cancer in humans)

Aborted human fetuses cells- (large foreign proteins.)

Causing to the human body:

Encephalitis, severe infections, recurring colds, allergies, bowel problems, blindness,

deafness, paralysis, autoimmune diseases and organ damages.

Below there’s a table which expand in the permanents damages of mercury in a short and

long terms.

Summary Comparison of Characteristics of Autism & Mercury Poisoning

Mercury Poisoning Autism

Psychiatric Social deficits, Social deficits, social

shyness, social withdrawal, shyness
withdrawal
Disturbances Depression, mood Depressive traits,
swings; mask face mood swings; flat
affect
  Anxiety Anxiety
  Schizoid tendencies, Schizophrenic &
OCD traits OCD traits;

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 repetitiveness
  Lacks eye contact, Lack of eye contact,
hesitant to engage avoids conversation
others
  Irrational fears Irrational fears
  Irritability, Irritability,
aggression, temper aggression, temper
tantrums tantrums
  Impaired face Impaired face
recognition recognition
Speech, Loss of speech, Delayed language,
failure to develop failure to develop
speech speech
Language & Dysarthria; Dysarthria;
articulation problems articulation problems
Hearing Speech Speech
comprehension comprehension
deficits deficits
Deficits Verbalizing & word Echolalia; word use
retrieval problems & pragmatic errors
  Sound sensitivity Sound sensitivity
  Hearing loss; Mild to profound
deafness in very high hearing loss
doses
  Poor performance on Poor performance on
language IQ tests verbal IQ tests
Sensory Abnormal sensation Abnormal sensation
in mouth & in mouth &
extremities extremities
Abnormalities Sound sensitivity Sound sensitivity
  Abnormal touch Abnormal touch
sensations; touch sensations; touch
aversion aversion
  Vestibular Vestibular
abnormalities abnormalities

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Motor Involuntary jerking Stereotyped
Disorders movements – arm movements - arm
flapping, ankle jerks, flapping, jumping,
myoclonal jerks, circling, spinning,
choreiform rocking; myoclonal
movements, circling, jerks; choreiform
rocking movements
  Deficits in eye-hand Poor eye-hand
coordination; limb coordination; limb
apraxia; intention apraxia; problems
tremors with intentional
movements
  Gait impairment; Abnormal gait and
ataxia – from posture, clumsiness
incoordination & and incoordination;
clumsiness to difficulties sitting,
inability to walk, lying, crawling, and
stand, or sit; loss of walking
motor control
  Difficulty in chewing Difficulty chewing or
or swallowing swallowing
  Unusual postures; toe Unusual postures; toe
walking walking
Cognitive Borderline Borderline
Impairments intelligence, mental intelligence, mental
retardation - some retardation -
cases reversible sometimes
"recovered"
  Poor concentration, Poor concentration,
attention, response attention, shifting
inhibition attention
  Uneven performance Uneven performance
on IQ subtests on IQ subtests
  Verbal IQ higher than Verbal IQ higher than
performance IQ performance IQ
  Poor short term, Poor short term,
verbal, & auditory auditory & verbal
memory memory
  Poor visual and Poor visual and

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 perceptual motor perceptual motor
skills, impairment in skills, lower
simple reaction time performance on timed
tests
  Difficulty carrying Difficulty carrying
out complex out multiple
commands commands
  Word-comprehension Word-comprehension
difficulties difficulties
  Deficits in Deficits in abstract
understanding thinking &
abstract ideas & symbolism,
symbolism; understanding other’s
degeneration of mental states,
higher mental powers sequencing, planning
& organizing
(iv)

Unusual Stereotyped Stereotyped,

sniffing (rats) repetitive
behaviors
Behaviors ADHD traits ADHD traits
  Agitation, Agitation,
unprovoked unprovoked
crying, crying, grimacing,
grimacing, staring spells
staring spells
  Sleep Sleep difficulties
difficulties
  Eating Eating disorders,
disorders, feeding problems
feeding
problems
  Self injurious Self injurious
behavior, e.g. behavior, e.g. head
head banging banging
Visual Poor eye Poor eye contact,
contact, problems in joint
impaired visual attention

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 fixation
Impairments "Visual "Visual
impairments," impairments";
blindness, inaccurate/slow
near- saccades;
sightedness, decreased rod
decreased functioning
visual acuity
  Light Over-sensitivity to
sensitivity, light
photophobia
  Blurred or Blurred vision
hazy vision
  Constricted Not described
visual fields
Physical Increase in Increase in
Disturbances cerebral palsy; cerebral palsy;
hyper- or hyper- or
hypo-tonia; hypotonia;
abnormal decreased muscle
reflexes; strength, especially
decreased upper body;
muscle incontinence;
strength, problems chewing
especially and swallowing
upper body;
incontinence;
problems
chewing,
swallowing,
salivating
  Rashes, Rashes, dermatitis,
dermatitis/dry eczema, itching
skin, itching;
burning
  Autonomic Autonomic
disturbance: disturbance:
excessive unusual sweating,
sweating, poor poor circulation,
circulation, elevated heart rate
elevated heart

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 rate
Gastro- Gastroenteritis, Diarrhea,
intestinal diarrhea; constipation,
abdominal gaseousness,
pain, abdominal
constipation, discomfort, colitis
"colitis"
Disturbances Anorexia, Anorexia; feeding
weight loss, problems/vomiting
nausea, poor
appetite
  Lesions of Leaky gut
ileum & colon; syndrome
increased gut
permeability
  Inhibits Inadequate
dipeptidyl endopeptidase
peptidase IV, enzymes needed
which cleaves for breakdown of
casomorphin casein & gluten
Abnormal Binds -SH Low sulfate levels
Biochemistry groups; blocks
sulfate
transporter in
intestines,
kidneys
  Has special Purine &
affinity for pyrimidine
purines & metabolism errors
pyrimidines lead to autistic
features
  Reduces Low levels of
availability of glutathione;
glutathione, decreased ability
needed in of liver to detoxify
neurons, cells heavy metals
& liver to
detoxify heavy
metals
  Causes Abnormal
significant glutathione

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 reduction in peroxidase
glutathione activities in
peroxidase and erythrocytes
glutathione
reductase
  Disrupts Mitochondrial
mitochondrial dysfunction,
activities, especially in brain
especially in
brain
Immune Sensitivity due More likely to
Dysfunction to allergic or have allergies and
autoimmune asthma; familial
reactions; presence of
sensitive autoimmune
individuals diseases,
more likely to especially
have allergies, rheumatoid
asthma, arthritis; IgA
autoimmune- deficiencies
like symptoms,
especially
rheumatoid-
like ones
  Can produce an On-going immune
immune response in CNS
response in
CNS
  Causes Brain/MBP
brain/MBP autoantibodies
autoantibodies present
  Causes Skewed immune-
overproduction cell subset in the
of Th2 subset; Th2 direction;
kills/inhibits decreased
lymphocytes, responses to T-cell
T-cells, and mitogens; reduced
monocytes; NK T-cell
decreases NK function; increased
T-cell activity; IFNg & IL-12
induces or
suppresses

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 IFNg & IL-2
(v)

CNS Structural Selectively targets Specific areas of

Pathology brain areas unable to brain pathology;
detoxify or reduce many functions
Hg-induced spared
oxidative stress
  Damage to Purkinje Damage to
and granular cells Purkinje and
granular cells
  Accummulates in Pathology in
amygdala and amygdala and
hippocampus hippocampus
  Causes abnormal Neuronal
neuronal disorganization;
cytoarchitecture; increased neuronal
disrupts neuronal cell replication,
migration & cell increased glial
division; reduces cells; depressed
NCAMs expression of
NCAMs
  Progressive Progressive
microcephaly microcephaly and
macrocephaly
  Brain stem defects Brain stem defects
in some cases in some cases
     
Abnormalities Prevents presynaptic Decreased
in Neuro- serotonin release & serotonin synthesis
chemistry inhibits serotonin in children;
transport; causes abnormal calcium
calcium disruptions metabolism
  Alters dopamine Possibly high or
systems; peroxidine low dopamine
deficiency in rats levels; positive
resembles response to
mercurialism in peroxidine (lowers
humans dopamine levels)
  Elevates epinephrine Elevated

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 & norepinephrine norepinephrine
levels by blocking and epinephrine
enzyme that
degrades
epinephrine
  Elevates glutamate Elevated
glutamate and
aspartate
  Leads to cortical Cortical
acetylcholine acetylcholine
deficiency; increases deficiency;
muscarinic receptor reduced
density in muscarinic
hippocampus & receptor binding in
cerebellum hippocampus
  Causes Demyelination in
demyelinating brain
neuropathy
EEG Causes abnormal Abnormal EEGs,
EEGs, epileptiform epileptiform
activity activity
Abnormalities/ Causes seizures, Seizures; epilepsy
convulsions
Epilepsy Causes subtle, low Subtle, low
amplitude seizure amplitude seizure
activity activities
Population Effects more males Male:female ratio
than females estimated at 4:1
Charact-eristics At low doses, only High heritability -
affects those concordance for
geneticially MZ twins is 90%
susceptible
  First added to First "discovered"
childhood vaccines among children
in 1930s born in 1930s
  Exposure levels Prevalence of
steadily increased autism has steadily
since 1930s with increased from 1
rate of vaccination, in 2000 (pre1970)
number of vaccines to 1 in 500 (early

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 1990s), higher in
2000.
  Exposure occurs at 0 Symptoms emerge
- 15 months; clinical from 4 months to 2
silent stage means years old;
symptom emergence symptoms emerge
delayed; symptoms gradually, starting
emerge gradually, with movement &
starting with sensation
movement &
sensation

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 In conclusion, my personal opinion after learning more about the vaccine composition and

damages that this has cause is that it weakens the immune system in order to leave us

unprotected. The vaccines are tools that are responsible for massive poisonings, for

population reduction and someone is acting irresponsible of not discontinuing this practice. It

is a billion dollar industry where the makers are not even using the product and does not

allowed their family to consume it either. Many physician does not use it either with them or

their relatives and loves one, so why should we.

Our immune system is designed naturally to become stronger each time a disease attack the

body. That is why the majority of us get chicken pox only once. Our immune system, also

records a disease so the next time it attacks, the disease can be prevented. Personally, the way

I would protect my loved ones from diseases would be:

1- Clean water and good nutrition

2- Rest and exercise, sunshine and fresh air

3- A loving and secure family environment

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Bibliography:

www.medscape.com - Epidemiology and Possible Causes of Autism

www.nationalautismassociation.org - Table -Summary Comparison of Characteristics of

Autism & Mercury Poisoning

www.fda.org

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