Autism diagnoses in the United States are on the rise, as is speculation as to what has caused this increase in diagnoses. Since autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a complex disorder that can include a wide range of symptoms, the increase in diagnoses may well be because of an increased public and professional awareness of the behaviors exhibited by those affected.
Regardless of the cause in the increase in diagnoses, there is no medical test that can rule out ASD nor has one single cause been identified. No cure is available, but effective treatments and interventions exist.
Many theories as to causation exist as well, however, including genetics, the environment, and the role of thimerosal, a preservative formerly used in childhood vaccines, particularly the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. (Thimerosal has not been routinely used as a preservative since 2001).
Any quick Internet search of autism will bring up results that point to a connection between autism and vaccines, as well as a number of results that dispel a connection between the two. With so much information available, and some of it from seemingly credible sources, it may be difficult for parents to determine what is fact and what is fiction.
While it is true that individuals with autism may have difficultly metabolizing heavy metals and other environmental toxins, no link has been found between vaccines and autism.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that “evidence from several studies examining trends in vaccine use and changes in autism frequency does not support such an association.” The CDC goes on to state that a scientific review by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that “the evidence favors rejection of a causal relationship between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism.”
The CDC supports the conclusion reached by the Institute of Medicine, and the prevailing belief among autism experts is that not only is there no correlation between vaccines and autism, but that not vaccinating children against preventable childhood diseases is dangerous.
Furthermore, it is important for parents to remember that vaccines undergo extensive testing by the Federal Drug Administration before being approved for use and continue to undergo review and testing while in use.
While parents are justifiably concerned about preventing autism, the lack of a causal connection between childhood vaccines and autism should ease their minds. Research continues and discoveries are being made daily as to the causes of this complex disorder, but parents should heed the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC and be sure their children obtain vaccines against preventable childhood diseases.