Vaccines as possible cause for autism - Essay Example

Running Head: ARE VACCINES A CAUSE OF AUTISM Are Vaccines a Possible Cause for Autism And are there Genetic Markers that show Children's adverse reactions to Vaccines Abstract This research paper looks at what is Autism, symptoms, diagnosis and what could be seen as possible causes. The main focus is on the research involved in identifying whether or not genetics are linked to Autism, and if so, does it make some children susceptible to adverse reactions to certain vaccines Could this be seen as a cause of Autism If so, is it possible to screen children for genetic markers before receiving a vaccine. The paper will also look at how to treat children with autism. Autism : Definition, Symptoms and Diagnosis Autism is a disorder in which the development of the brain is affected, predominantly in the areas of communication and social interaction. Typically the first signs of this disorder would appear before age 3. Although the symptoms and behaviour can be managed and with time improved, through treatment, there is no permanent cure for autism. It persists throughout life. According to Mayoclinic.com (2006) "It's estimated that three to six of every 1,000 children have autism. A recent increase in the number of autism cases in the United States may be the result of improved diagnosis and changes in diagnostic criteria." (web page) The disorder appears more often in boys than in girls. Almost three to four time in access. The seriousness of the symptoms differ in each case. Mayoclinic.com (2006) "Some children with autism will grow up able to live independently, while others may always need supportive living and working environments." (web page) Symptoms of autism in children, generally manifest in three crucial areas of development - social skills, language and behavior. Mayoclinic.com (2006) " The most severe autism is marked by a complete inability to communicate or interact with other people." (web page) According to Mayo Clinic Staff (2006) "Because the symptoms of autism vary widely, two children with the same diagnosis may act quite differently and have strikingly different skills." (web page) Mayoclinic.com (2006) "If a child has autism, he or she may develop normally for the first few months - or years - of life and then later become less responsive to other people, including the primary care giver. One may recognize the following signs in the areas of social skills, language and behavior: Social skills (Fails to respond to his or her name, has poor eye contact, Appears not to hear you at times, Resists cuddling and holding, Appears unaware of others' feelings, Seems to prefer playing alone - retreats into his or her "own world"). Language (Starts talking later than other children, Loses previously acquired ability to say words or sentences, Does not make eye contact when making requests, Speaks with an abnormal tone or rhythm - may use a singsong voice or robot-like speech, Can't start a conversation or keep one going, May repeat words or phrases verbatim, but doesn't understand how to use them). Behavior (Performs repetitive movements, such as rocking, spinning or hand-flapping, Develops specific routines or rituals, Becomes disturbed at the slightest change in routines or rituals, Moves constantly, May be fascinated by parts of an object, such as the spinning wheels of a toy car May be unusually sensitive to light, sound and touch) Young children with autism also have a hard time sharing experiences with others. When someone reads to them, for example, they're unlikely to point at pictures in the book. This early-developing social skill is crucial to later language and social development. As they mature, some children with autism become more engaged with others and show less marked disturbances in behavior. Some, usually those with the least severe impairments, eventually may lead normal or near-normal lives. Others, however, continue to have severe impairments in language or social skills, and the adolescent years can mean a worsening of behavior problems." (web page) Diagnosis of autism is based mainly on the behaviour of a child. As quoted in Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia "Autism is defined in the DSM-IV-TR as exhibiting at least six symptoms total, including at least two symptoms of qualitative impairment in social interaction, at least one symptom of qualitative impairment in communication, and at least one symptom of restricted and repetitive behavior. Sample symptoms include lack of social or emotional reciprocity, stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language, and persistent preoccupation with parts of objects. Onset must be prior to age three years, with delays or abnormal functioning in either social interaction, language as used in social communication, or symbolic or imaginative play." Volkmar F, Chawarska K, Klin A (2005) As qtd in Wikipedia.org (2005) "Several diagnostic instruments are available. Two are commonly used in autism research: the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) is a semi structured parent interview, and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) uses observation and interaction with the child. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) is used widely in clinical environments to assess severity of autism based on observation of children." Volkmar F, Chawarska K, Klin A (web page) Autism : Causes Though a lot of research has been and are being done, as of today there are no definite identified causes for autism. The most recent and up to date evaluations by research experts, is that autism is possibly caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Even so there is no definite answer. The positive points are that the interest in finding answers is very high, there fore the funding for autism research is increasing. As a result, new and better information can be anticipated in the very near future. The inquiries into the cause of autism is extremely controversial, taking into account the genetic factors, environmental factors and the possible role vaccines may play in the development of the disorder. Through the extensive research done up to now, experts have identified that; Autism has a genetic component; If autism runs in your family, you have an increased risk of having a child with autism; If you already have one child with autism, you have an increased risk of having another child with autism; The genes associated with autism are complex -- and a genetic inclination toward autism may require an environmental "trigger" to cause symptoms. In August 2005, WebMD submitted an article, which presented for the first time concrete evidence by researchers, to show gene interactions at play in autism. According to Boyles qtd in WebMD Medical News (2005) "For the first time, researchers have identified an interaction between two specific genes that increases the risk that a child will develop autism. Both of the genes are associated with a chemical in the brain that has been a target of autism research for the past decade. "This is exciting because it tells us that researchers seem to be on the right path and that we may be starting to understand the brain pathology (of autism)," says Andy Shih, PhD, who is chief science officer for the National Alliance for Autism Research, which helped fund the new study." (web page) WebMD (2005) "Autism researcher Margaret Pericak-Vance, PhD and colleagues with Duke's Center for Human Genetics have long studied a brain chemical associated with slowing or stopping nerve activity, known as GABA. The GABA system acts as something of an information filter to prevent the nerves from becoming over stimulated. It has long been suspected that this filtering process is compromised in many autistic children. Impairment of the GABA system could overwhelm the brain with sensory information, leading to many of the behavior traits associated with autism. GABA is believed to play a key role in the early development of the brain, and the Duke researchers and others have previously shown a connection between GABA and autism. In their latest study, Pericak-Vance and colleagues examined 14 genes that help make parts of the GABA receptor. The receptors allow the chemical to affect nerve function. The participants in the study were 470 Caucasian families with at least one autistic member; 266 families had more than one member with autism. The findings are reported in the September issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics, published online today. The researchers identified one gene called GABRA4 as being associated with autism risk. Interaction with a second gene known as GABRB1 appeared to drive this risk. "This is the first interaction of this sort that we can point to as having a real statistical correlation with autism," researcher John R. Gilbert, PhD, tells WebMD. "This is a first step, but we don't yet know where it will take us." While much of the research has focused on the GABA system, it is clear that other genes are also involved. The thinking among the experts is that as few as 10 separate genes and as many as 100 may play a role in autism. All agree, however, that the newly reported findings could advance the search for earlier diagnostic tests and autism treatments." (web page) The other controversial factor in the research of the disorder is the role of vaccines as a cause of autism. According to Rudy (2006) qtd in About.com "There are two theories that link autism and vaccines. The first theory suggests that the MMR (Mumps-Measles-Rubella) vaccine may cause intestinal problems leading to the development of autism. The second theory suggests that a mercury-based preservative called thimerosol, used in some vaccines, could be connected to autism." (web page) The case of little Hannah Poling as articled in the Times In Partnership with CNN, by Claudia Wallis (Mar, 2008), is an important milestone in the research of 'do vaccines cause autism' Wallis (2008) "What happened to little, red-haired Hannah Poling is hardly unique in the world of autism. She had an uneventful birth; she seemed to be developing normally - smiling, babbling, engaging in imaginative play, speaking about 20 words by 19 months. And then, right after receiving a bunch of vaccines, she fell ill and it all stopped. Hannah, now 9, recovered from her acute illness but she lost her words, her eye contact and, in a matter of months, began exhibiting the repetitive behaviors and social withdrawal that typify autism. "Something happened after the vaccines," says her mom, Terry Poling, who is a registered nurse and an attorney. "She just deteriorated and never came back." Top of Form Bottom of Form Parents of kids like Hannah have been fingering vaccines - and, in particular, the mercury-based vaccine preservative thimerosal - as a cause of autism for over a decade, but researchers have repeatedly failed to find a link. What's unique about Hannah's case is that for the first time federal authorities have conceded a connection between her autistic symptoms and the vaccines she received, though the connection is by no means simple. A panel of medical evaluators at the Department of Health and Human Services concluded that Hannah had been injured by vaccines - and recommended that her family be compensated for the injuries. The panel said that Hannah had an underlying cellular disorder that was aggravated by the vaccines, causing brain damage with features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A special federal vaccine court has yet to award damages, but the recommendation, made public last week, is causing a sensation in the autism advocacy community. The Polings, who live in Athens, Ga., were originally part of a group of nearly 5,000 families with autistic children seeking damages through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The other cases remain before the court. The Poling case is also causing deep concern among public health officials, eager to reassure parents that vaccines are safe and, indeed, hugely beneficial. In a public statement on Friday, Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), insisted that "the government has made absolutely no statement about indicating that vaccines are the cause of autism, as this would be a complete mischaracterization of any of the science that we have at our disposal today." Gerberding and other health authorities point out that the benefits of vaccines far exceed their risks. They also note that thimerosal was eliminated from routinely administered childhood vaccines manufactured after 2001, and yet autism rates have continued to climb. The current CDC estimate is that 1 of 150 American children has an autism spectrum disorder." (web page) The importance of Hannah's case is that, authorities have conceded to having recognized a connection between vaccines and an underlying cellular disorder already existent in Hannah which may have aggravated the development of autism. But they have not made an official statement accepting vaccines as a cause of autism. It is also a recognized fact that vaccines are necessary for children. As the conflict and controversy of vaccines continue, an obvious option would be to screen children for genetic markers which together with vaccines could aggravate development of autism. Though theoretically this seems an obvious and easy option, practically it has not yet been introduced, possibly due to the cost and time factors. As for the two theories identified in relation to vaccines and autism, according to Rudy as qtd in About.com (2006) "The positive side, for new parents, is that thimerosal has now been removed from most vaccines -- and thimerosal-free vaccines are available across the board. As with thimerosal, parents now have an option regarding the MMR vaccine. According to those who are concerned with the multi-dose shot, dividing the MMR into three separate shots can make the difference. Parents can request single-dose vaccinations over a period of months rather than a single MMR shot." (web page) Autism : Treatment According to Mayoclinic.com (2006) "There's no cure for autism, and there's no "one-size-fits-all" treatment. In fact, the range of home-based and school-based treatments and interventions for autism can be overwhelming. Your doctor can help identify resources in your area that may work for your child. Treatment options may include: Behavioral and communication therapies. Many programs have been developed to address the range of social, language and behavioral difficulties associated with autism. Some programs focus on reducing problem behaviors and teaching new skills. Other programs focus on teaching children how to act in social situations or how to communicate better with other people. Drug therapies. Right now, there are no medications that directly improve the core signs of autism. But some medications can help control symptoms. Stimulants can help with hyperactivity, while antipsychotic drugs sometimes will control repetitive and aggressive behaviors. Complementary approaches. Some parents choose to supplement educational and medical intervention with complementary therapies, such as art therapy, music therapy, special diets, vitamin and mineral supplements, and sensory integration - which focuses on reducing a child's hypersensitivity to touch or sound. However, there is no scientific proof that these therapies work. It's important to talk with your child's doctor before trying any treatment. Children with autism often respond well to highly structured education programs. Successful programs often include a team of specialists and a variety of activities to improve social skills, communication and behavior. A child won't "outgrow" autism. But he or she can learn to function within the confines of the disorder, especially if treatment begins early. Preschool children who receive intensive, individualized behavioral interventions show good progress."(web page) References Mayo Clinic Staff, June 02, 2006 "Autism" http//www.mayoclinic.com Volkmar F, Chawarska K, Klin A, 2005 "Autism in infancy and early childhood" http//www.wikipedia.org Boyles, S, August 03, 2005 "Researchers On The Right Path" WebMD Medical News http//www.webmd.com Rudy, J, L, August 21, 2007 "Autism Guide" http//www.autism.about.com Wallis, C, March 10, 2008 "Case Study: Autism and Vaccines" http//www.time.com Read More