Introduction
There is nothing more heart wrenching than watching your child suffer from various gastrointestinal disturbances such as stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, poor digestion, poor absorption, bloating and so on with no way to appropriately communicate how they feel. Children with autism are caught in this world of silence with no way to express pain except through behaviors. For many parents the escalation of self-injurious, aggressive and irritable behaviors has been unexplainable. In addition, many parents have children with severe feeding and eating issues, dietary restrictions, and food selectivity which is also very difficult to manage on a daily basis. Recently, scientists and researchers have recognized the role of bacteria overgrowth in the GI tract and how this negatively affects behaviors and cognitive functioning. No research has been more formidable in autism than the Gut-Brain Connection. What doctors believe is that the bacteria in the GI tract are affecting your child's brain. See Leaky Gut. Many children with autism also have Lyme disease due to the bacteria Borrelia Burgdorferi and PANDAS is associated with Streptococcal bacteria while PANS is associated with many other types of bacteria. For further information, see Lyme disease and PANS/PANDAS.
Related Sites
NIH PANDAS Description: Frequently asked questions about pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infections.
Pediatric Gastroenterology Description: Arthur Krigsman, MD, is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
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Culprits of Autism Identified: Toxins, Gut Bacteria, Nutritional Deficiencies and Vaccines Made with Human Fetal Cell Lines Description: Researchers are now starting to understand how a child’s microbiome can play an important role, either by exacerbating or even causing autistic symptoms. New studies suggest restoring microbial balance may alleviate autistic symptoms.
Hashimoto’s Moms: Gut Bacteria Linked to Autism Description: This blog talks about the consequences of gut bacteria, bacteria in the womb for the child who develops autism and the gut/brain connection.