Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics. If indeed it were the case that at least some cases of autism are triggered by Lyme disease, then perhaps these cases of autism could be treated. This would, of course, be an enormous benefit to the autism community.
How likely is it that Lyme disease may cause some cases of autism? While an organization called Lyme Induced Autism suggests that it's very likely, no serious research has been conducted to date. The group has been raising money to conduct research, and is hoping to find the proof they seek.
Meanwhile, Columbia University researcher Brian A. Fallon is now in the process of conducting an epidemiological study which compares rates of Lyme disease to rates of autism. If that study suggests a connection, then further research may be warranted.
Given the extremely preliminary nature of this idea, it's interesting to compare the views of the two organizations involved in research. The press release from the Lyme Induced Autism Foundation states:
New reports indicate up to 90% of children with autism are infected with Lyme disease. With autism at a staggering 1 out of 166 children, parents are questioning this new finding.Meanwhile, however, Columbia University's research description states:
In our work with children who have developed Lyme disease, we have encountered a few children who had developed autistic-like disorders which were eventually also diagnosed as having Lyme Disease due to other concomitant symptoms; when the child received intensive antibiotic therapy, the autistic syndromes dramatically improved and, in some cases, resolved. We hypothesize: a) that a small subpopulation of children with autism in Lyme endemic areas may have an antibiotic responsive disorder due to a spirochete-induced autistic syndrome...Obviously, these two perspectives are very much at odds. Given that no true research has taken place to date, it's hard to know where the "new reports" cited in the press release could be coming from. In short, it looks to me like yet another opportunity for the media to get very excited about very little. Until an epidemiological study shows a probable connection between Lyme and autism, and until double-blind, placebo-based studies actually show that antibiotics can improve autistic symptoms -- I'd recommend that parents sit tight.
Meanwhile, however, it's a great idea to protect yourself and your children from Lyme disease, which does indeed have the potential to cause serious harm.
Along that same line of thinking…..is there a connection between the number of autism cases being diagnosed to a parent who has had Lyme disease and underwent antibiotic therapy…suggesting that while the disease lies dormant, that the spirochete may in fact be passed along to the fetus?
I read this article earlier, and followed some links. The strange thing is that some kids being diagnosed with Lyme disease never had a tick bite. This is confusing. Anyway, I figure it wouldn’t hurt to get tested for Lyme in the meantime if I can convince the doctor to do it. But it appears to be a long shot to me.
Cynthia
Go and read the book Lab 257 – if you can get through it….
Lyme can be passed to babies, it can be passed to your partner, you don’t need to be bitten by a tick to get it. And if you don’t get enough AntiBx, it doesn’t necessarily go away. Depends on how long you’ve had it.
Most doctors know squat about Lyme. It’s hard to find someone. The Lyme doctor who is local to us moved here from NJ because all his patients were driving there from here (southeastern PA) – there were no specialists back then. Best way to find someone good, and to get good info, is to go to the Lyme websites.
This information is from one who has had lyme and is recovering. Lyme is a singlr celled parasite. If you do any research on parasites you will very quickly find that they are not being detected by most of our currenting techniques. They are also very difficult to eradicate, and finally they are, extremely contagious as they can survive outside the body. To effectively erradicate you must treat continuously for up to 2 yrs. Because of the long treatment period antibiotics ,don’t usually eradicate and may be completely ineffective in certain cases, as the parasite can exist in different forms and dose so. You must use anti-parasitic herbs.Many more people have lyme than we think because the current testing is so inadequate and because the disease may be asymptomatic for years. I believe you will find that virtually all people with autism will test positive for lyme.
Dr. Jones is the foremost Lyme Literate Pediatrician in the country. Out of 7,000 cases of Lyme disease he’s seen in his medical practice, 300 were born with Gestational Lyme Disease. Dr. Jones is the one physician that parents with cured children with Lyme disease hold in the highest esteem. In one study Dr. Jones conducted analyzing his patient records for 102 of his clinically confirmed cases of GESTATIONAL LYME DISEASE (i.e. Lyme disease passed from mother to fetus that was confirmed by blood tests), he discoved the following results:
9% of the children had AUTISM
56% had ADD, Hyperactivity, & Lack of Concentration
The majority of children presented with neurological symptoms including hypersensitivy and learning challenges. This article is published in the LYME TIMES CHIDREN’S TREATMENT ISSUE (September 2005, p.34-36).
As a parent, you may seriously want to rule out Lyme Disease as one of the potential causes of your child’s Autism, because true Lyme cases can be treated, restoring a high quality of life for your loved one. Left untreated, symptoms may worsen and even cause death.
Lyme Disease is multisystemic and has been found to mimic many diseases including MS, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, ALS, Alzheimer’s, cardiac, vision, and digestive/gastrointestinal disorders.
With regard to AUTISM, are ALL Autism cases really Lyme Disease? Probably not. But if your child has been diagnosed with AUTISM without highly sensitive and specific Lyme disease testing, you may be accepting Lyme Disease that is presenting as Autism, in which case IT CAN BE TREATED.
As a final note, I received a letter from a young man in his mid 20’s with Lyme disease who was not fully treated, but thought he was. He married and had a baby. Six years later he is now dying with Congestive Heart Failure. His wife is ill and his child has, “The worst case of AUTISM ever recorded in US history…” What is the likelihood his child has Lyme disease that is presenting as AUTISM?
Christine N. Cibula, M.S.
Lyme Literate Coach and Consultant
http://www.livingwithlyme.com/lyme_awareness_may_2007.html
The connection between lyme disease and autism is that lyme disease causes an autoimmune reaction that causes brain inflammation. Almost every single child with regressive autism has brain inflammation.
Look at the section 11.1 in the link below
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease#Immunological_studies
Brain inflammation is a sign of autism (You can find hundreds of articles like these if you search by “brain inflammation autism”
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=6289
Listen to the real up-to-date research findings from the actual experts working with Lyme everyday.Lyme Disease Research Database
My 8 year old son just tested POSITIVE for Lyme disease. I don’t know if this is actually a blessing or a curse, but he’ll need to get treatment for it.
I was told last month that some of the symptoms of Lyme resembled that of autism. I would never have had a Lyme test done if it wasn’t recommended. Who knows how long my son has been positive.
I just wanted to share with others. Maybe this will help someone else.
Precious 5 yr. old grandson just tested POSITIVE for Lyme disease. Only did testing after close friend with lyme disease insisted the autistic diagnosed symptoms were most similiar to her lyme. As advocatemom says, we don’t know how to feel. He did have tick bite at 14 months.
my brother who is a high functioning, has not only been diagnosed with Lyme, but co-infections as well. And my youngest sister, who has learning disabilities, is also infected with Lyme and the co-infection Bartonella…we believe our mother passed to them…I contracted it on my own, as did the oldest of my 3 siblings…the 2 mentioned about are the youngest…
I was diagnosed with lymes and while on antibiotics became pregnant with my second child. He has PDD-Nos. He is always getting strep throat and ear infections and weird other infections. He is allergic to pennicilin but has been on and off other antibiotics for these other infections. Everytime he has an infection his behaviors worsen…after the antibiotics he is better. We had him tested for lymes at birth and it was negative. I did breast feed him. He now has autism. I often wondered if these too things were connected. I think so!
Only about 50% of patients with Lyme disease have exposure to ticks. This indicates that there are other methods of transmission besides bites from the hard ticks. Go to LIA Foundation at lymeinducedautism.org for more information.