Co-morbid medical conditions in autism spectrum disorders
Date Issued
2014
Author(s)
Abstract
Introduction: many children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
have comorbid medical conditions. Recent large-scale studies have confirmed that
several medical conditions are significantly more prevalent in people with autism
compared to the typical population. Comorbid conditions may be markers for basic
psychopathology and may require a more varied treatment approaches. Comorbid
conditions in ASD are: anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, gastrointestinal disorders,
depression and other psychopathological disorders, ADHD, Fragile X syndrome,
mental retardation, neuroinflammation and immune disorders, nonverbal learning
disorder, motor clumsiness, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome,
epilepsy, sensory problems, tuberous sclerosis, oxidative stress, acquired mitochondrial
dysfunction and metabolic abnormalities, etc.
Methodology: the main goal of the article is to present the most frequent
medical conditions in ASD in a sample from the Republic of Macedonia. The main
task of the research is to show that accurate diagnosis and treatment often results
in an improved level of functioning and decreased severity of symptoms. This is a
retrospective, descriptive study where 102 medical records from the Macedonian
Scientific Society for Autism were analyzed. In the study, 88 males and 14 females
were included with a mean age of 6.9±3.63 years.
The results: the most prevalent medical conditions were acute infectious disease
(40%): varicella in 35 (34%) and measles in 7 (6%) of the persons with autism. Angina
was seen in 34 (33%) persons of the sample. Sixteen patients met the criteria for any
kind of allergies on food, medicaments, and inhalants. Conclusions, as a symptom,
were represented in 15 (14%) of the subjects. Eleven patients had lower respiratory
tract infections such as bronchitis and bronchopneumonia. Eleven percents had
gastrointestinal disorders. Genetic disorders were not detected. Conclusion: medical comorbid and consecutive pathological processes can
have a negative impact on behavior, socialization, communication, cognitive function
and sensory processing of individuals with autism. The failure to identify medical
conditions, in part, is due to communication impairments and ambiguous symptomatology,
but under-diagnosis also exists. Many of these medical conditions are
treatable, and often resulting in improved quality of life for the patient and the family.
Accurate identification and solving the conditions of medical comorbid with autism
will help the reduction of the immense emotional, physical and financial burden of
the families and the guardians.
have comorbid medical conditions. Recent large-scale studies have confirmed that
several medical conditions are significantly more prevalent in people with autism
compared to the typical population. Comorbid conditions may be markers for basic
psychopathology and may require a more varied treatment approaches. Comorbid
conditions in ASD are: anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, gastrointestinal disorders,
depression and other psychopathological disorders, ADHD, Fragile X syndrome,
mental retardation, neuroinflammation and immune disorders, nonverbal learning
disorder, motor clumsiness, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome,
epilepsy, sensory problems, tuberous sclerosis, oxidative stress, acquired mitochondrial
dysfunction and metabolic abnormalities, etc.
Methodology: the main goal of the article is to present the most frequent
medical conditions in ASD in a sample from the Republic of Macedonia. The main
task of the research is to show that accurate diagnosis and treatment often results
in an improved level of functioning and decreased severity of symptoms. This is a
retrospective, descriptive study where 102 medical records from the Macedonian
Scientific Society for Autism were analyzed. In the study, 88 males and 14 females
were included with a mean age of 6.9±3.63 years.
The results: the most prevalent medical conditions were acute infectious disease
(40%): varicella in 35 (34%) and measles in 7 (6%) of the persons with autism. Angina
was seen in 34 (33%) persons of the sample. Sixteen patients met the criteria for any
kind of allergies on food, medicaments, and inhalants. Conclusions, as a symptom,
were represented in 15 (14%) of the subjects. Eleven patients had lower respiratory
tract infections such as bronchitis and bronchopneumonia. Eleven percents had
gastrointestinal disorders. Genetic disorders were not detected. Conclusion: medical comorbid and consecutive pathological processes can
have a negative impact on behavior, socialization, communication, cognitive function
and sensory processing of individuals with autism. The failure to identify medical
conditions, in part, is due to communication impairments and ambiguous symptomatology,
but under-diagnosis also exists. Many of these medical conditions are
treatable, and often resulting in improved quality of life for the patient and the family.
Accurate identification and solving the conditions of medical comorbid with autism
will help the reduction of the immense emotional, physical and financial burden of
the families and the guardians.
Subjects
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