Published: July 03, 2008 11:33 pm      

Pediatrician monitors rise in autism

DANVILLE — Although autism has become a hot topic, it wasn’t always considered worthy of discussion.

Years ago, parents whose children exhibited some of the symptoms that have come to signal the developmental disorder were blamed for their youngsters’ atypical behavior. These parents were thought to be distant, if not cruel, to their offspring.

That stigma has been lifted, but the number of children diagnosed with autism has increased.

Danville pediatrician Dr. Robert Elghammer said that in 1960, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reported three cases of autism for every 10,000 births. In 2007, that number escalated to one case for every 150 births.

“Autism itself is more common today,” he said, “but so is overcoming it.”

Elghammer has studied autism since 1985 when he first began seeing it in his patients. A member of a national organization called Defeat Autism Now, he keeps up with the latest research and theories on the causes and treatments of the condition.

His office staff does the same. Head nurse Becky Shaw has completed courses related to the condition and sees the results of certain treatments used in the practice.

“It’s amazing to see kids come in and be totally nonverbal before treatment,” Shaw said. “Then the parent calls, so excited. The child has just said their first word. They’re 12-years-old.”

Right now, Elghammer believes strongly that the routine vaccinations young children receive may be responsible for the increase in autism.

Elghammer pointed to a story in the June 30 Chicago Tribune about the link between autism and vaccines.

“Studies have failed to show any link between vaccines and autism,” the Tribune story said, “but many parents are convinced that the vaccines — usually given around the time autism becomes apparent — are to blame.”

But recent cases involving a 9-year-old girl who developed autism following numerous vaccinations and a 6-year-old who died after a FluMist vaccine led experts to speculate that some link may exist.

One theory is that “vaccines may cause and contribute to an underlying mitochondrial disorder, which in turn causes autism,” the Tribune reported.

Elghammer said “Immunizations may be fine for 99 percent of the population. I wouldn’t change anything for children during their first year, just follow the same routine.

“But I suggest that everyone delay their children’s boosters until they’re 2-years-old. By that time, autism will have manifested itself.”