Abstract
Pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) or Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) include Autistic Disorder (commonest), Asperger's syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorders, Rett's syndrome and PDD—NOS (not otherwise specified).Objective: Autism is an important cause of social disability and reported more often from the developed world than from the developing countries. The present study was aimed to establish the diagnosis of autism amongst children with derangements of language, communication and behavior; ascertain and treat the co-morbidities; identify underlying cause and create a sensitivity and awareness among various health care professionals.Methods: Sixty-two of the seventy-five referred patients fulfilled the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder) criteria for autism. Evaluation included a detailed history, clinical examination, IQ assessment, Connor's scoring for hyperactivity and Fragile-X screening. Management of co-morbidities was done. A follow up of these patients was done. Parents' assessment of the child was also done. A registry for autistic children was established at the Department of Pediatrics with other major institutions of Delhi.Results: The male: female ratio was 8∶1 and missed diagnosis was common. Professional awareness is merited. Behavioral modification by early intervention and stimulation improved the core symptoms of autism. Important co-morbidities included mental retardation (95%), hyperactivity (53%) and seizures (10%) cases. Control of co-morbidities in these children facilitated child's periodic assessment and implementation of intervention programmes. In the registry initiated 62 patients were enrolled at AIIMS and 6 were identified from other hospitals.Conclusion: Autism does occur in Indian children too. Diagnosis is often missed. Capacity building among health professionals by a more structured teaching of developmental disabilities in the medical curriculum is required. The need to attend to co- morbidities and associated symptoms was clear. The initiation of the registry and beginning of networking was important.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Psychiatr Pol. 2000 May–Jun; 34(3): 447–55.
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edn. Washington, DC: APA, 1994.
DSM—IV (American Psychiatric Association. Task Force on DSM—IV, 2000)
Bertrand J, Mars A, Boyle Cet al. Prevalence of autism in a United States population: The Brick township, New Jersey, investigation.Pediatrics 2001; 108: 1155–1161.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevalence of Autism in Brick Township, New Jersy; 1998: Community Report, Atlanta, GA Center for Disease Control and Prevention; 2000
Honda H, Shimizu Y, Misumi K, Niimi M, Ohashi Y. Cumulative incidence and prevalence of childhood autism in children in Japan.Br J Psychiatry 1996; 169: 228–235.
Singhi P, Malhi P. Cimical and Neurodevelopmental Profile of Young Children with Autism.Indian Pediatr 2001; 38(4): 384–390.
Fombonne E. The epidemiology of autism: a review.Psychol Med 1999; 29(4): 769–786.
Bailey A, Phillips W, Rutter M. Autism: towards an integration of clinical, genetic neuropsychological and neurobiological perspectives.J Child Psychol Psychiatry 1996; 37: 189–126.
Kaye JA, del Mar Melero-Montes M. Mumps, measles and rubella vaccine and the incidence of autism recorded by general practitioners: a time-trend analysis.BMJ 2001; 322: 460–463.
Gillberg C, Heijbel H. MMR and Autism.Autism 1998; 2: 423–424.
Howlin P, Moore A. Diagnosis in autism: a survey of over 1200 patients in the UK.Autism 1997; 1: 135–162.
Smalley SL. Autism and tuberous sclerosis.J Autism Dev Disord 1998; 28(5): 407–414.
Veenstra-Vanderweele J, Cook E. Genetics of childhood disorders: autism.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2003; 42: 116–118.
Vig S, Jedrysek E. Autistic features in young children with significant cognitive impairment: autism or mental retardation?J Autism Dev Disord 1999; 29: 235–248.
Minshew NJ, Sweeney JA, Bauman ML. Neurological aspects of autism. In Cohen DJ, Volkmar FR, eds.Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders. 2nd edn. New York, NY: Wiley & Sons; 1997; 344–369.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kalra, V., Seth, R. & Sapra, S. Autism — Experiences in a tertiary care hospital. Indian J Pediatr 72, 227–230 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02859263
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02859263