NEW DELHI: Till about 20 years ago, autism was considered a rare neuro-developmental disorder with one in over 1,000 children being diagnosed with it. Not anymore. Recent data released from USA's Center for Disease Control and Prevention quoted the prevalence of autism at an alarming one in 68 children in March 2014. In year 2012, the figures stood at one in 88.
Autism clinics run by Delhi hospitals, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), have also reported a sharp rise in cases.
According to Dr Sheffali Gulati, professor and chief, division of child neurology at the premier medical institute, from year 2002-05, they (AIIMS autism clinic) used to get approximately 2-3 cases of autism every month. "Between years 2005 and 2008, it went up to approximately 4-5 cases per month. And from 2008 till date, a total of 492 children (7-8 cases per month) have been identified with autism spectrum disorder and are under follow-up. Additionally, 8-10 cases are diagnosed every month but are not under regular follow up because they are far-off or suffer from other co-morbidities," Dr Gulati said.
Autism clinics run by Delhi hospitals, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), have also reported a sharp rise in cases.
According to Dr Sheffali Gulati, professor and chief, division of child neurology at the premier medical institute, from year 2002-05, they (AIIMS autism clinic) used to get approximately 2-3 cases of autism every month. "Between years 2005 and 2008, it went up to approximately 4-5 cases per month. And from 2008 till date, a total of 492 children (7-8 cases per month) have been identified with autism spectrum disorder and are under follow-up. Additionally, 8-10 cases are diagnosed every month but are not under regular follow up because they are far-off or suffer from other co-morbidities," Dr Gulati said.
It is estimated that close to 10 million people in India suffer from autism and related disorders-for which there is no cure. Behavioural intervention is the mainstay for treatment.
A recent study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives said exposure to air pollution damages the brain, affecting the same area of the brain that is known to play a role in autism and schizophrenia in human beings. Their study was based on experiments conducted on animal models.
AIIMS, Dr Gulati said, has conducted several studies to know the reason behind this alarming increase but no conclusive evidence has been found. "We looked into the role of heavy metals and depression in mothers of children with autism but the results were inconclusive," the doctor added.
However, researchers confirm that increased numbers cannot be linked to awareness and better diagnostics only.
A recent study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives said exposure to air pollution damages the brain, affecting the same area of the brain that is known to play a role in autism and schizophrenia in human beings. Their study was based on experiments conducted on animal models.
AIIMS, Dr Gulati said, has conducted several studies to know the reason behind this alarming increase but no conclusive evidence has been found. "We looked into the role of heavy metals and depression in mothers of children with autism but the results were inconclusive," the doctor added.
However, researchers confirm that increased numbers cannot be linked to awareness and better diagnostics only.
Professor V K Paul, head of the department of paediatrics at AIIMS, said addressing the problem of autism is the need of the hour especially as the global public health community is now moving to prepare for the post-Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 2015 agenda wherein such disorders will have an important priority.
Dr Praveen Suman Mehta, director of Child Development Clinic at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said till about 10 years ago autism was a rare disorder. "We rarely saw patients suffering from the condition. But now, we see 3-4 patients every OPD day," she said. Dr Mehta added there is no cure for autism but early identification of such cases can help in improving the deficits through targeted therapies.
AIIMS doctors say while there are several treatment methods being experimented with, including stem cell therapy, only behavioural intervention has proved successful in controlling symptoms such as impairment in eye-to-eye contact, facial expression, body posture and gestures which are displayed by those with autism.
The global prevalence of autism, according to a Center for Disease Control (CDC) report, has increased twentyfold to thirtyfold since the earliest epidemiologic studies were conducted in the late 1960s and early 1970s. At that time, prevalence estimates from European studies were one in 2,500 children in the population, and by the 2000s prevalence estimates from large surveys were 1%-2% of all children.
Dr Praveen Suman Mehta, director of Child Development Clinic at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said till about 10 years ago autism was a rare disorder. "We rarely saw patients suffering from the condition. But now, we see 3-4 patients every OPD day," she said. Dr Mehta added there is no cure for autism but early identification of such cases can help in improving the deficits through targeted therapies.
AIIMS doctors say while there are several treatment methods being experimented with, including stem cell therapy, only behavioural intervention has proved successful in controlling symptoms such as impairment in eye-to-eye contact, facial expression, body posture and gestures which are displayed by those with autism.
The global prevalence of autism, according to a Center for Disease Control (CDC) report, has increased twentyfold to thirtyfold since the earliest epidemiologic studies were conducted in the late 1960s and early 1970s. At that time, prevalence estimates from European studies were one in 2,500 children in the population, and by the 2000s prevalence estimates from large surveys were 1%-2% of all children.
Courtesy Autism Society
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