Mon, Oct 5, 2009 (Reuters Health) — You may have heard the oft-quoted statistic that autism affects 1 in 150 U.S. children. Turns out it’s more like 1 in 91 — and about 1 in 58 boys, according to new figures released Sunday.

That’s an estimated 673,000 U.S. children — or approximately 1 percent of all U.S. kids, the researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, and Harvard Medical School, Boston report in the journalPediatrics.

Bob Wright, co-founder of the autism advocacy group Autism Speaks, told Reuters Health he’s not at all surprised by the new figures. “We’ve been screaming about the numbers going up; now there is a relatively complete recognition of it.”

“The statistical aspect of autism is just staggering,” he said, and not enough is being done about it. “If we had 1 in 58 boys getting swine flu, the country would be crazy,” Wright said.

Autism is a brain disorder characterized by problems with social interaction, repetitive behavior and other symptoms. People with a mild version called Asperger’s syndrome usually function relatively well in society, although they have problems relating to others. People with the most extreme symptoms may be unable to speak and may also suffer severe mental illness and retardation.

No one knows what causes autism — it’s generally thought to have genetic and environmental triggers — and there is currently no good treatment.

Autism is “an urgent public health concern,” Dr. Ileana Arias, deputy director of CDC, told reporters on a conference call Friday ahead of public release of the data.

The new data, she said, “confirm that a concerted effort and a substantial national response is warranted in addressing the issue.”

On September 30, U.S. President Barack Obama promised a large infusion of funds into research on autism, as part of plans to spend $5 billion on medical and scientific research, medical supplies and upgrading laboratory capacity.

The new figures on autism cases stem from a 2007 telephone survey conducted jointly by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and CDC.

More than 78,000 parents of children between the ages of 3 and 17 were asked whether they had ever been told by a health care provider that their child had autism, Asperger’s syndrome, or another “autism spectrum disorder” (ASD).

Based on these parent reports, the prevalence of ASD in 2007 was 110 per 10,000 children aged 3 to 17 (or 1 in 91). The new estimates are far higher than previous estimates of 66 autism cases per 10,000 children (or 1 in 150).

“We are extremely concerned about the apparent increase,” Dr. Arias said, but she urged caution in interpreting it. “Unfortunately, the information that we currently have doesn’t allow us to give a true account of whether the apparent increase is an actual increase or the result of changes in the way we describe or diagnose ASD,” she explained.

More inclusive survey questions, increased public awareness, and improved screening and diagnosis of autism are all possible reasons for the higher numbers, Dr. Michael D. Kogan of HRSA and colleagues report in Pediatrics.

They also report that boys were much more likely than girls to have autism, which has been shown previously, and white children were more likely than black children or multiracial children to have the disorder.

Parents of half the children with autism described the condition as “mild.” Another third of parents described their child’s condition as moderate, and the remaining parents described it as severe.

Approximately 38 percent of children seemed to have “lost” their autism — their parents said they had once been told that their child had an autistic disorder but their child did not currently have the condition.

It’s possible, the researchers say, that autism was initially suspected but subsequently ruled out and never truly diagnosed. The high rate of “lost” cases of autism among very young children (age 3 to 5) supports this line of thinking.

It’s also possible that some children with “developmental” issues and learning disabilities may have been initially diagnosed with autism to qualify for special education and other services.

Children who had “lost” their autism were more likely to be diagnosed with other developmental or mental health conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety problems, or behavioral problems.

“We are hopeful,” Arias said, “that the new data will raise awareness about (autism), will help improve early identification and intervention, will provide information for policy and service planning, and most importantly help us meet the growing needs of individual families and communities who are affected by autism and other developmental disorders.”

– Megan Brooks

It is one of the many miracles that accompany pregnancy and birth. Within a few days after the baby is born, lactation begins. The baby comes to its mother for food, and the mother’s milk is ready to nourish her newborn. A very special bond develops between mother and child.Caring for each other: Breastfeeding is an intimate love relationship between two people who have just met. It provides the baby - and the mother - with physical and emotional support at a vital time when the newborn needs orientation into and protection within this still undiscovered world. In addition, breast milk indisputably gives the baby all the nutritional nourishment he or she needs, providing antibodies to help protect the infant from illnesses during early development and growth.The experience of feeding her own child is an invaluable one for a mother - helping her bond with her baby in a beautiful, harmonious way. But breastfeeding does even more: it helps the mother’s uterus shrink back to its natural size, it causes her body to use up more calories and, overall, it helps her body better adjust to post-pregnancy life.The World Health Organization recommends that a mother exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of her baby’s life to ensure optimal health and nutrition.Tender Love and Trust: Of course, every beginning comes with challenges. After the exertions and turbulences of pregnancy and birth, a new mother doesn’t always find it easy to (calmly) take on all the many new tasks. What we think is supposed to simply “happen naturally” does not always go as planned. This can be true of breastfeeding. Like all relationships, this special partnership is best nurtured with a gentle approach and healthy dose of patience and tranquility. No secret recipe or magic potion exists for happy and harmonious breastfeeding - just a lot of love and care. 

Care for your body and skin with a soothing Tummy Massage. A tummy massage with Baby Tummy Oil—for babies and adults, Pregnancy Body Oil—if pregnant or Arnica Massage Oil—for an everday soothing masage, helps to relax the body, stimulate the digestion and decrease the presence and formation of stretch marks. To massage the stomach area, lie on your back with a pillow under your head and knees or rest your calves on a chair to relax your abs and pelvis. Massage the Weleda Body Oil of your choice over your stomach area, clockwise with both hands, spiraling outward, with light pressure for at least five minutes. Breathe deeply and feel the calming and nourishing benefits of this massage. Complete the massage by sliding the palm of your hand down your left thigh to ease any digestive disturbances outward.

Benefits for Mother & Child

You may have spent some time deciding whether to breastfeed or not. A lot of women start off breastfeeding, but a large number of them give up after a couple of weeks. This is a shame, because breastfeeding offers considerable benefits. For good measure, we have listed a number of these benefits below.

Benefits for the baby

The composition of breast milk in terms of protein and fats is perfectly adapted to the specific age of the baby;
Babies that receive breast milk rarely get diarrhea or constipation;
Breast milk offers better protection against allergies and infections than formula milk;
Any symptoms of allergy to cow’s milk (such an allergy can be strong, especially in the first six months) are avoided, although sometimes you have to avoid using cow’s milk in what you eat yourself;
The strong sucking at the breast is beneficial for the development of the jaw, speech and teeth and satisfies the baby’s need to suck;
Breastfed babies never actually get too fat. Even in later life, they apparently have less chance of becoming overweight;
Breastfeeding satisfies the baby in its need for body contact.

Benefits for the Mother

It is a unique experience that you only go through for a short period of time;
Breastfeeding creates an intimate contact with your child, strengthening your mutual bond;
Breastfeeding reduces the chance of later developing osteoporosis (bone loss) because the density of the bones increases the longer a woman feeds;
It is easy: you always have food on hand, and do not have to go through the rigmarole of sterilizing bottles, bottle warmers, etc. if you go out;
Breastfeeding does not cost anything, so it is cheaper than bottle-feeding which can sometimes be expensive.

Babies love rhythm. They clap their hands, they giggle, they sleep, they cry - all to their own beat. But babies need help in finding a balanced rhythm for healthy development. After a long day spent processing new impressions, babies find a warm bath soothing and comforting. With their rapidly developing bodies, little ones are very sensitive to their new world, and the warmth of the bath water helps them adjust to the day’s cycle. When combined with Weleda Baby Calendula Cream Bath, bathing becomes an especially relaxing, nourishing and cleansing ritual for both parents and children. (more…)