More evidence suggests a link to Lyme disease

Some cases of autism spectrum disorders are induced by Lyme Disease.

clipped from www.wddty.com Autism: More evidence suggests a link to Lyme disease 14 February 2008 Up to a third of all cases of autism may be the result of Lyme disease and other chronic infections, new research suggests. Researcher Robert Bransfield believes that tick-borne infections, such as Lyme disease, can weaken the immune system during infancy and make the sufferer more vulnerable to autistic-spectrum diseases. He estimates that between 20% and 30% of all autistic children may be infected by Lyme disease or other similar infections. If so, it means that 140,000 autistic children in the USA alone have the problem as a direct result of an infection. If they were treated with high-dose antibiotics – considered to be the most effective therapy, especially in the early stages of infection – the savings in healthcare and education costs would amount to around $358bn, he estimates. (Source: Medical Hypotheses, published online: November 5, 2007. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2007.09.006).