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.
Doctor Natasha
Description: Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD, focuses on the Gut/Brain connection and how to help your child.
PANDAS Network
Description: Other bacteria and viruses.
Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Natasha Campbell McBride, MD
Follow Your Gut: The Enormous Impact of Tiny Microbes (TED Books) by Rob Knight and Brendan Buhler
Biological Treatments for Autism and PDD by William Shaw PhD
Brain Maker by Neurologist David Perlmutter, MD
Some forums require you to sign in to Yahoo or Facebook to locate forum names.
Forum/Blog Name: Microbiome Learning Center
Description: This Facebook group is dedicated to exploring and understanding the microbiome, and seeks to understand how to keep it healthy to promote improved health.
Forum/Blog Name: Microbiome/Microbioma
Description: This bilingual Facebook group provides current information on microbiome research related to health and nutrition.
Forum/Blog Name: Odd Behavior from Strep Bacteria in Some Children with Autism: PANDAS
Description: This blog discusses the strange obsessive and compulsive behaviors of some children with autism who make antibodies to strep bacteria. These bacteria cross over into the brain and cause OCD type of behaviors, tics and odd movements. Some treatment protocols are discussed as well.
Forum/Blog Name: The Gut-Brain Connection: How Gut Bacteria May Treat Depression
Description: John F. Cryan, PhD, neuropharmacologist and microbiome expert from the University College Cork in Ireland found that when mice were bred in a sterile environment lacking bacteria they mimicked human anxiety, depression and autism.
