In a study released this week, the antibiotic Augmentin TM has been implicated in the formation of autism. The study strongly suggests the possibility of ammonia poisoning as a result of young children taking Augmentin. Augmentin has been given to children since the late 1980's for bacterial infections. Composed of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium, Augmentin has proven a potent antibacterial, especially for ear infections which quickly become resistant to amoxicillin alone.

The manufacture of AugmentinTM involves the fermentation of clavulanic acid. The fermentation process involves large amounts of urea/ammonia. Ingested ammonia can potentially injure the intestines of small children as well as brain and nervous tissue. Even a small residue of urea/ammonia can potentially induce a substantial brain inflammation or abnormality.

The study, published in Medical Hypotheses, (2005 64, 312–315) examines 206 children under the age of 3 diagnosed with autism. These children were found to have a significantly higher number of ear infections than the general pediatric population. These same children received, on average, 12 courses of antibiotics representing a sum total number of 2480. Of the 2480, 893 of these courses were Augmentin with 362 of those given under the age of 1 year.

Dr. Joan Fallon, scientist, autism researcher and author of the study, states that, "Augmentin is one of the most widely prescribed drugs for children. Its introduction into the marketplace for use in the treatment of childhood illnesses corresponds with the significant increase in the incidence of autism. It is possible that some children, especially those with immaturity, or others at risk for developmental disorders can be injured by taking this drug. It is imperative that further research be undertaken to determine if a subset of children are at risk for neurotoxicity due to the use of clavulanate or clavulanic acid in pharmaceutical preparations - especially Augmentin."
http://press.arrivenet.com/hea/article.php/551918.html


Another thing that corresponds with the increase...they have said the same thing for MMR vaccines, mercury, folic acid, now this.
A parents forum that was posting how they knew that MMR caused their kids autism is today posting that they are sure that this antibiotic did it, because even though last week they knew that their children regressed straight after the MMR, they now realise that it was after taking this antibiotic.....

That is interesting, however I wonder in how far the higher rates of ear infections (something to do with connective tissue weakness I think) on the Spectrum (and also in things like Dyspraxia etc.) was taken into consideration.

Also, I was under the impression that chronic ear infections, especially in the first few years, were also linked with the development of sensory integration and auditory processing problems (because of the partial and fluctuating deprivation of auditory sensory input), and evidence of this seems to predate the introduction of this antibiotic.

I know of at least one case where a regressive case of autism (at age 2) coincided with a severe bout of a middle ear infection. (Usually, there is just a mention of recurrent or chronic ear infections, rather than onset of severe autistic symptoms at the same time as an infection)

Personally I had recurrent middle ear infections (before this AB was brought out though) but was already insensitive to pain when they set in, as I never felt or reported any pain until my eardrums burst.

I wonder if Aspies are more prone to ear infections?  I had all sorts of problems with my ears when I was younger.  So many tenous links, all I know is that Autism spectrum disorders have a strong genetic component, as the symptoms go back generations in my family, long before Augmentin and even vaccines.  From what I know of scientific method, these studies don't hold nearly enough water to warrant the media hype they're given.  They're possible leads, and should be followed up, but some people just want someone to blame, someone they can take to court.  Stupid litigious society. :evil:

Is it just too scary for the general public to think that Autism is genetic and not a disease/disorder/abnormality?  

My youngest (autistic) son has never taken any type of antibiotic or any kind of meds when he was younger.  At age 25, he needed an antibiotic, but only took a couple of doses and that's all.  Autism is in my family (big time).  When we found out about autism, we just said, "Oh, so that's what it's called" and it goes so far back in my family that I just can't see it being "caused" by something ingested, or in the air and it's definately not a disorder!

The autistic traits that my sons father has were exactly the traits that attracted me to him in the first place.  So, if our numbers are growing, it is because we are not as anti-social as they think, at least, not with each other  :wink:

So, if our numbers are growing, it is because we are not as anti-social as they think, at least, not with each other Wink

Amen to that!

Quack Quack  

We should set up a roulette wheel on what will be "blamed" for autism this week...I bet on enviromental factors next week! (I'm 99.99% sure it's genetics!)

Greetings,

Hypotheses are all people seem to be interested in anymore.  Maybe the public should me more aware of exactly what a hypothesis is.  A hypothesis is a statement that describes the aim of an experiment.  It is basically an assumption which must be proved or disproved by an experiment.  In this case the only type of experiment which could achieve this is to take a sample of genetically identical children (for example several sets of twins), administer the drugs to one half and not the other and monitor them for a few years.

I don't need to remind anyone that such an experiment would be ethically unacceptable - but it does highlight one obstable that the researchers face.

The problem is that as soon as one of these hypotheses is announced, the media pounce on it and the gullable public just lap it up.  

Look on the bright side.  If you're ever short of money, all you need to do is grab a lawyer, tell them about how autism has ruined your life and sue some random drugs company :twisted:

P.S.  I would also add that any hypothesis based on rates of infection or similar illness is unsound to begin with because of the immune problems associated with more severe cases of autism.

Did you see what I mentioned in my post?

Noetic : I fail to see how brain functionality such as sensory integration and auditory processing can manifest physical infections.  We are talking about bacterial infections here.

I saw a post of this article on an NT parents of kids with ASD board and it was surprising how many had replied of having children that had ear infections and having taken Augmentin, yet another thing to freak them out I guess. I never really had any ear infections or never took Augmentin and both my boys, one confirmed autistic, and one, if he is or isn't, doesn't make much difference to me have never had ear infections between them both or reactions to vaccines, etc. that other people claim happen, etc. It's amazing how people jump on potential causes for autism and readily try and dismiss genetics or something triggering the genetics.

I don't think you read my post properly.

I said that chronic infections of the ears can negatively influence sensory development (because they deprive the child of sensory input), and ALSO that the connective tissue problems that are frequent on the Spectrum are linked with higher rates of ear infections. I never stated that sensory problems CAUSE ear infections!  :roll:

The reason why middle ear infections are common on the Spectrum is among other things (alelrgies also seem to be implicated) down to the same cause as the lax joints - connective tissue weakness.

Middle ear infections are caused by bacteria getting trapped in the Eustachian Tubes (which before age 7 are quite narrow, which is why ear infections are much more common before that age) and infection spreading to the middle ear.

The tubes get blocked (and narow tubes as well as tissue problems that cause the tubes not to get drained properly make this possible), the infection builds up and puts pressure on the ear drum from inside.

People with connective tissue problems tend to have weaker tubes that don't get drained properly, and are thus more likely to clog up and trap infections. This is also believed to be behind some of the increased incidences of hayfever and sinus problems, because adequate drainage often prevents infection and can flush out pollen faster.

oops? :oops:

I believe it was when you said 'linked ' that led me to the wrong conclusion.  Sorry about that.

Anyway - as an additional point to what you said, I happened to see an interesting documentary on feral children the other night.  What they discovered was that language development only occurs at a specific age and even children who were deprived of that for a short time were never able to fully understand language.  This would seem to have strong implications for the language delay in autism.

No problem, I couldve explained it better!

I think I saw the same documentary, or a similar one, about a year or so ago I think. Which channel was this on, I'll check if it was the same.