Dr. Harvey Karp has just written an excellent blog beginning to discuss the role environmental toxins play in causing autism. I agree that the huge rise in autism is real, and not just related to better diagnosis or reclassification of mental illness. Autism is most likely caused by a genetic predisposition and an environmental "trigger."
Studies showing that vaccines and their many constituents do not contribute to this problem are flawed, filled with specious reasoning and, for the most part funded by the pharmaceutical industry. Even articles in reputable medical journals are often written by doctors with an economic interest in continuing the vaccination program's status quo. This does not invalidate all of these studies but it certainly makes them suspect and a poor foundation for an argument excluding vaccines from the list of environmental influences on the increase in autism in America and elsewhere.
The facile dismissal of those of us calling for safer vaccinations and scrutiny of the current vaccine schedule is not scientifically based and polarizes the discussion. Perhaps most importantly, this dismissal is insulting to the thousands of parents and families who aver that their children have been harmed by vaccines. There are extremists choosing to ignore the facts in all vaccine/autism camps. I am not one of them.
Asking that cars be manufactured with more attention to safety and that driving is best when done safely does not make one "anti-car" or anti-driving. Asking for safer vaccinations and more judicious use of those we have does not make me or anyone else "anti-vaccine."
The studies Dr. Karp cites show pretty much the opposite of what he's claiming they do. The opposite. The Danish Study's data are misused by all and interpreted to suit one's needs. The Japanese study also shows a connection between the MMR split into three components and autism. Mainstream medical journals rarely will publish editorial comment impugning the quality or integrity of vaccines because they are dependent upon the good graces of the pharmaceutical industry for their publishing dollars. Seeking out reputable commentators is difficult because the extremists on both sides of this debate exaggerate their claims and speak louder and more unpleasantly as if this helps to make their points.
In April of 2009, the "Journal of the American Medical Association" spoke to the conflict of interest and possible corruption as the journals, the AMA, the AAP and other medical associations rely on money from the manufacturers of vaccines and other drugs.
I have been in practice thirty years and watched thousands of children get shots, not get shots, develop autism or remain developmentally "neurotypical." I have no proof that vaccines cause autism and would be very excited to have my large group of extremely healthy mostly unvaccinated children studied someday. It would be disingenuous to imply that non-vaccination might not lead to an increased incidence in vaccine-preventable illness. It would be equally disingenuous to state that this possibility poses a great threat to America's children. The risks of vaccinating the way we do now exceeds the benefits of this vaccine program. "Scientists" who suggest that experienced doctors ignore their eyes and ears are wrong. Detractors who say that we should ignore parents who are certain that vaccines caused their children's autism are wrong and often quite mean-spirited.
Dr. Karp, if you are going to talk and blog about kitchen cleaners, furniture polish, pesticides and other toxins, how can you possibly ignore the 30-40 injections of potentially risky material we give children in their first 24 months of life? There is absolutely no proof that these shots are as safe the makers say they are and certainly no proof that new combinations of vaccines and hastily created shots are safe enough for our children.
Certain childhood illnesses are far less common than before we had vaccines to decrease their numbers. When numbers drop so low for certain illnesses, we have to cast a strong critical eye on the possible side effects of a vaccine. This loving, reasonable principle can initially be applied by an individual parent to an individual child and family. We certainly have to add public health into this complicated calculus of risk versus reward. It remains very possible that changing the way we manufacture vaccines and being more selective in our use of them may have huge public health benefits. It would be unscientific and immoral to ignore these more difficult possibilities in favor of the easier answers in Dr. Karp's post. We can save more children if just think harder.
Giving children the chicken pox vaccine may lead to huge shingles problems in adults.
Autism is triggered by many environmental, infectious and other causes. Vaccines are one of these triggers. Believe the parents!
Related: Dr. Harvey Karp Cracking the Autism Riddle: "Vaccine Theory" Fades as a New Idea Emerges
Follow Jay Gordon, MD on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JayGordonMDFAAP
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Toxic chemicals have a direct influence on developing brain, but also relevant to autism are their immunosupp
Autism has been firmly linked to infections - eg prenatal rubella or postnatal herpesviru
Toxins change cellular metabolism in such ways to increase viral virulence and enable them to establish chronic presence in the host. In addition, tissue uptake and distributi
To see how toxins interact with infectious agents try Pubmed search with Ilback as the keyword. Dozens of VERY interestin
If you are interested in infectious agents in autism see http://aut
In summary: autism has been firmly linked to (perinatal and later) infections
There are at least 3 pathways by which vaccines could contribute to autism:
1) is direct influence of toxic substances and live viruses from vaccines
2) autoimmune pathology/
3) reactivati
http://www
In hope that, "soon", these debates & discussion
Here's to wishing the best for all warriors on both sides, with the well being of our little ones at heart.
http://tho
Please support it. This is why:
http://oce
http://oce
95% of the chlor-alka
Dr. Jay is wrong. 36 shots between birth and 6 years of age. Not the first 24 months. Of course, Dr. Jay is wrong about a lot of things.
Have you seen this video?
http://www
What are your thoughts?
Zyprexa
Cymbalta
Humalog
Humulin
Zoloft
Depakote
Prozac
Luvox
Anafranil
Wellbutrin
haloperido
Risperdone
Geodon
Clonidine
Tegretol
Lamictal
Topamax
Depakote
Ritalin
Concerta
Adderall
Risperdal
Just as a note:
Medication
HE will however prescribe antibiotic
What I'm trying to figure out is what drugs are prescribed by doctors to treat autism or autism like symptoms.
"Is your list going to include what those drugs are supposed to do?"
That's a great idea.
I appreciate your input.
"Have you seen this video?
http://www
What are your thoughts?"
Boyd Haley is not an autism expert. Judges aren't even allowing his testimony in vaccine trials.
Thanks, then I'll remove one from my list.
"Boyd Haley is not an autism expert"
I know. What's your question? Or did you already answer it?
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I would also suggest that all studies that regard counting population on various criteria are constantly attacked by those on the opposite side of this issue (whichever side that would be) by the choices made in picking who to count and adjustment
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This paragraph right here, was pretty much the whole POINT of my two-part post. Which if anyone of the pro-diseas
http://ian
Loosing a child, regardless of how is horrific. I agree. The horror and depression that would naturally follow such a tragedy is all encompassi
That does not change the fact that an emotional story is not scientific fact. Using emotionall
Oh, I can't say that 'these parents' are 'pro-disea
But yes, they are irrational
Too many warning bells have been going off, for far too long to be ignored. These are the voices of distraught parents.
We know there's that soup of toxins that enter into the equation.
We don't think vaccinatio
We believe vaccinatio
As far as the question of vaccinatio
We have reason to believe past studies & reports are biased due to untrustwor
I've contacted Ingri Cassel, President of Vaccinatio
http://www
I've asked her here & help discuss this important matter.
I've also asked her to address the discussion at;
come.http://www
So here's to getting these debates at Huffington Post rolling in caring & sharing, so we can help make this world a safer place for our little ones & future generation
lol did you cut and paste this from your post on the other thread?
What's the problem you seem to have?
I just wish Ingri Cassel, President of Vaccinatio
People can go to her site at;
http://www
People can go there to learn what she has to say & add it to all the other informatio
Ingri's a serious activist working right now on a project concerning swine flu & wouldn't like this petty back & forth nonsensica
She's tried to create an account here at HuffPo to no avail, for some reason.
She said she posted at Kombles anti-AOA site, but I couldn't see it, yet.
I thought you didn't like the type comments you just made, sirenity.
Wasn't it you, who not long ago, reprimande
Attacking science that show the contrary to your beliefs, doesnt also make it better either.
The aim of science is to make this a better world for all. All of the advances in many areas of life are due to these, and many will continue. However, like vaccinatio
The normal workaday American can barely afford regular joe health care, let alone Cadillac woo-care.
Does anyone know why they changed the diagnosis criteria for ASD's? Is this something that is normally done?
Did they just include more conditions that used be a part of another condition? If that's true, was there a decline in another condition ?
You can get a secondhand copy of The Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmen
Science advances.
Kim
http://ian
Or have you bent over backwards to try and equate babies to prostitute
Also, it is no secret that vaccines can kill you. Almost any medical procedure has that risk. Adverse reactions and allergic reactions are always possible. That's why you have to sign a waiver whenever you receive even the most routine prescripti
My uncle died of a reaction to a vaccine as a child. A cousin of mine was killed in a car crash when she became trapped by her seatbelt and burned to death. Guess what? My family- aunts, uncles, parents, cousins, etc still vaccinates and we still all wear seatbelts. We recognize that the miniscule risk involved is still far outweighed by the risks of not vaccinatin
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"Classic Autism diagnoses have not been rising in the way that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) numbers have been rising." - I cannot find this in the article you cited. It has been a long time since 1994 .. even taking into account diagnostic "lag time"
Of course you are ignoring the UC DAVIS study published in Epidemiolo
http://www
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Actually, I'm not. You left out this quote from the abstract:
"Other artifacts have yet to be quantified
http://www
Why the need for diagnostic "lag time" when so many parents insist that their children were "lost forever" after receiving a vaccine during their toddlerhoo
So if you believe this as do many if not most of the faithful pro-vaccin
Where are the adults?
Are you implying that as these children reach adulthood they are kidnapped by aliens? http://www
Look on amazon even, some of these adults are writing books!
Check the newspapers
I used to live in the Netherland
Is it just a matter of then you won't have a big evil corporate boogie monster to blame, and people might actually have to be held accountabl
But it seems to me like we're dealing with an Ockham's razor situation here.
Unlike vaccines, there is no debate nor controvers
Unlike with vaccines, double blind studies have been time and time again which actually DO prove a direct correlatio
In the last few decades, obesity rates and poor eating habits have become an enormous problem in America. At the same time, rates of chronic diseases have also gone up. Isn't it most likely that if the thing (poor eating) which EVERYONE KNOWS causes health problems of every variety has gone up, and health problems have increased with it, then most likely THAT is the guilty variable, not some corporate controled third party, i.e. vaccines?
Assuming that meat, for instance, is probably a more contaminat
We know some drugs cause metabolic changes that lead to significan
I'm not confident based on what I see that we haven't significan