I wasn't too surprised that autism came out to be the number one searched children's health topics on AOL Search. Back in September, Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson Peete were on 'Oprah' to talk about it. Of course, anything on 'Oprah' gets a major boost in interest. Also, remember Jason McElwain, the autistic kid from Rochester who scored six three-pointers in the last four minutes of a high school basketball game last year?It's great that autism is getting a lot of attention. Autism is more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined according to Autism Speaks. A CDC study on autism and developmental disabilities in 2007 found that one in 150 8-year-old children in multiple areas of the U.S. had an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Also, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, three to six children out of every 1,000 will have autism.
So whether or not your child has autism, learn about it so you can learn the signs and show your support to parents of autistic children. Search for autism on AOL Search or go to AOL Body for more information.
This month's top searched children's health topic on AOL Search:
1) Autism
2. Lyme disease
3) ADHD
4) Head lice
5) Strep throat
6) Chicken pox
7) Meningitis
8) Asthma
9) Constipation
10) Impetigo
See sponsored links for: autism, treatments for autism.
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
21. Amen Sarah... I've also heard that pediatricians get paid for the amount of children that have had every immunization that is available... $50 - $100.00 per child...
Posted at 12:10PM on Nov 30th 2007 by basenji1031
22. Is it just me or does anyone else notice that 6 out of 10 of those searches can be related to nutrition?
I am not a doctor but as a hobby I have been researching the decline in nutrition for many years. The increase in certain conditions and diseases over the last 40 years is mind blowing. I firmly believe it is associated with the decline in the nutritional value of the food we eat.
Here's a story from a parent of an autistic child.
http://drink-limu.com/blog/?page_id=31
Posted at 12:18PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Bill
23. Wow! I am so suprised that MRSA isn't up there. I guess because it just recently became a big issue. But for like 2 months now thats all that anybody's been talking about!
Posted at 12:20PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Amy
24. I was not surprised to read autism was the #1 search. I have 3 children - the youngest with autism. What everyone needs to realize is most of these kids are not born autistic - something happens and they develop autism. I gave birth to a happy, healthy bouncing baby boy. He met every developmental milestone on-time or early until the age of 14 months when development stalled and then stopped. Could vaccines have played a role in his autism - I believe maybe they did. Not thimerasol, but rather the entire vaccine process. He had his first vaccines at the age of 6 months. We need real answers - and real science now.
Posted at 12:24PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Cheryl Richt
25. To the misinformed author of #20. Autism is in no way a catch all phrase for a type of metal retardation. A great number of kids with ASD have above average IQs. Autism is a communication and social disorder often accompanied by sensory challenges( sensitivity to different textures, sounds, lights, tastes etc.) and often accompanied by gastro intestinal problems and abnormal brain wave activity- seizures . The brain does not process communication or social information correctly. Autism is a spectrum disorder and each child/adult will have varying degrees of difficulty.
Posted at 12:29PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Cheryl Richt
26. I am not a doctor or a parent at present, and I can't say I know a great deal about autism. I wonder though, has there been any research on a link between schizophrenia and autism? There are a number of striking similarities between the illnesses and I know that some researchers of schizophrenia now believe it may start at an earlier age than previously thought, but that it may be much harder to recognize in an adolescent or a child. Schizophrenia has been linked to a retro-virus that began in-vitro, meaning the child was exposed (usually during the second trimester) while in the mother's womb, although the symptoms do not begin to manifest until later in life.
Posted at 12:37PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Krisi
27. This is to Sarah... Autism is NOT mental retardation. It is a nuerological disorder. Many autistics have genious IQ's and most are smarter than your "typical" children. The problem with autism is the way information and stimuli are processed. My 8 year old son is autistic, and although still behind his peers in school, he can read, write, talk, communicate, has friends etc. But it was a long long process to get him this far. However, now that he can communicate, we have learned about his above average skills in mathmatics and his photographic memory. When he was first diagnosed, I thought it was a curse but have since discovered what a blessing he is.
So, before you preach to others about "research", maybe you should try it yourself before speaking out on a subject you obviously know nothing about.
To all those parents out there with autistic kids, take this thought with you... When my son was first diagnosed, I was so mad at God, mad at the world. Then a friend told me that God must really like me because he only gives special children to those he knows will love them unconditionally. It changed my whole persepective. Be proud of your kids and love them for who they are because they love you unconditionally as well.
Peace.
Posted at 12:41PM on Nov 30th 2007 by JMW
28. Sarah-
Autisum is not mental retardation!!!! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!!!!DO SOME RESEARCH!!!!
Posted at 12:49PM on Nov 30th 2007 by cmr
29. Autism is the condition of the month right now and getting plenty of well deserved attention. Just because the condition that you or your child is dealing with doesn't mean that no one cares about it. They do research on many diseases, yes some more than others mainly because it affects more people.
As far as MRSA is concerned, it has been around since the early 60's (mainly because of our insistance to our Physician to give us a pill or shot to get better and most physicians chose antibiotics because even if it is ineffectual to the complaint, it caused no immediate harm). I have been diagnosed and treated twice for MRSA and it is NOT worth all the controversy surrounding it as far as contagion and panic.
My heart goes out to everyone who is dealing with any disease, but as they say, God never gives us more than we can handle. You must trust in God because that is where it all comes from.
Posted at 12:55PM on Nov 30th 2007 by golfinkatiekat77
30. I think it's interesting that no one (celebreties especially) mentions the mental retardation that more often than not accompanies autism or that no one talks about young adults with autism (our autistic son is 26), or that no one talks about the self abuse or absence of emotion that the truly autistic exhibit. . I think autism is over-diagnosed because parents who have a child with quirky behavior are looking for an excuse to explain the behavior.
Posted at 1:55PM on Nov 30th 2007 by linda
31. For more information about the relationship of autism to immunization, please go to the following web sites: National Vaccine Information Center, www.nvic.org and International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, www.icpa4kids.org. Good luck!!
Posted at 2:38PM on Nov 30th 2007 by JB
32. I have a 6 year old son with Autism. He had simple words, normal for his age and eye contact until shortly after a year old. He had his MMR vaccination along with others that they "normally" do at that age. after that he lost all verbal communication and eye contact. The verdict is still out on whether the Vaccines have any impact "medically" but sure is coincidental...let our "eyes" make our decisions and our "personal" testimonies.
Posted at 7:15PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Sherrie
33. Thank you Peggy for your comments. You said everything I've gone through regarding my autistic daughter and said it so eloquently too. According the the EPA a two year old child would have to weight 1600 pounds to safely recieve all the mercury we give them via shots!!!! I thank God that He showed us this road to recovery and that our daughter is recovering!
Posted at 8:20PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Denetta
34. There may be no evidence yet that thimerisol causes autism, but testing procedures are not accurate. Why are there no cases of autism in the Amish community? Because they do not vacinate their children and other countries in Europe and Japan have cut back on childhood vacines. What about other ingredients in vacinnes such as mercury, aluminum, and formaldehyde and the fact that all childhood vacines, some required at birth such as Hepatitis B, compromise the immune system and are scientifically proven to cause gastro-intestinal problems. Vacinated children also have more ear infections, ADD, asthma,cases of SIDS, and allergies. The reason cases of autism quadroupled in the nineties is because the number of shots given before Kindergarten are constantly increasing and they are given to sick children and in combinations which are unhealthy. Many children cannot process these increasing amounts of known neuro-toxins and they go right to the brain. I have a niece and nephew with autism, which was definitely linked to vacines, and thousands of dollars and many medical treatments later, including a process called chelation, which removes metals from the brain, they are improving thank God, but no thanks to pediatricains and drug companies who are promoting their own agendas (and getting rich quick) and disregarding the idividuality of children and how their bodies respond to vacines. See www.thinktwice.com before you vacinate your baby.
Posted at 9:41AM on Dec 1st 2007 by Peggy
35. Children's Defense Fund’s Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.
CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves.
Particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities.
CDF encourages preventive investment before children get sick or into trouble, drop out of school, or suffer family breakdown.
CDF began in 1973 and is a private, nonprofit organization supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations. CDF has never taken government funds.
Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 2nd 2007 by jude
36. Ok, wow, I read all the posts and have several comments. I do believe it is the vaccines, whether, he had an allergic reaction to the MMR, Thimerosol in the vaccine or whatever, but my son was TOTALLY
NORMAL. He was saying up to 12 words, clearly, great eye contact and had skills. I have proof with his well baby exams!! At 15 months of age, we had his MMR vaccine given and 2 weeks later, he was in front of the TV and I said, "---move" and he didn't. I repeated 3 times and then proceeded to actually put my hand on him and move him and he "lost it"! I thought he'd gone deaf and was just mad that I moved him. Took him to dr. immediately, (next day) and they sent me to ECI (early childhood intervention) and from there went to Neurologist for formal diagnosis. My son is now 10 years old and funtions on a 8-12 month old level. He has severe Autism. He also has severe mental retardation. He's still in diapers, has no words AT ALL. He can hum and loves to do so...he's very vocal, just no words. He can't feed himself with a utensil. All childhood diseases are awful and no parent should have to go through any of this with their child. When my son was diagnosed at 2 yrs. and 2 months, the rate was 1 in 500 I believe. In just 7-1/2 years its gone to 1 in 150. Autism has been around for very many years. Yes, doctors are making better diagnosis these days, but there is something out there that is not right. God bless all the parents struggling with any disease. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. Peace.
Posted at 3:03PM on Dec 12th 2007 by deanna beinlich
37. MRSA isn't just caught by those who are dirty, or take to many antibiotics, or were in the hospital,or that don't take vitamins. MRSA can be caught by very clean people, that never use antiobiotics, that take vitamins, that werent' in the hospital, it's called community MRSA. You can get it from just going to the store, touching something someone touched that has MRSA. Lots of the time people think they have a spider bite or pimple, but it is MRSA, and aren't treated right. There are only certain antibiotics that will treat MRSA, so if mistaken for a spider bite, that antibiotic won't always be the one that kills MRSA. You also have to be on the antibiotic more then 10 days, but a month or more.
Posted at 6:21PM on Dec 12th 2007 by Heather Jackson