Debate Continues Over Relationship Between Autism and Allergies from buzai232's blog

A new study reports that a high percentage of children with autism also have food and other allergies. However, other experts question the research.To get more Health News, you can visit shine news official website. It’s a possibility raised by a new study showing that children with autism are more than twice as likely to have food allergies as other children. The study from the University of Iowa also found that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were also more likely to have other types of allergies.

“Because immunological dysfunction has been postulated as a risk factor for autism, it is imperative to know whether allergic conditions, which are relevant to immunological dysfunction, are associated with autism,” Dr. Wei Bao, an assistant professor in the epidemiology department at the University of Iowa and a study corresponding author, told Healthline. “It is possible that the immunologic disruptions may have processes beginning early in life, which then influence brain development and social functioning, leading to the development of ASD.” A new study reports that a high percentage of children with autism also have food and other allergies. However, other experts question the research.

It’s a possibility raised by a new study showing that children with autism are more than twice as likely to have food allergies as other children. The study from the University of Iowa also found that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were also more likely to have other types of allergies. “Because immunological dysfunction has been postulated as a risk factor for autism, it is imperative to know whether allergic conditions, which are relevant to immunological dysfunction, are associated with autism,” Dr. Wei Bao, an assistant professor in the epidemiology department at the University of Iowa and a study corresponding author, told Healthline. “It is possible that the immunologic disruptions may have processes beginning early in life, which then influence brain development and social functioning, leading to the development of ASD.” Researchers led by Guifeng Xu, PhD, with the epidemiology department at the University of Iowa, found that 11 percent of children with ASD had food allergies, compared to 4 percent of other children.

In addition, almost 19 percent of children with autism had respiratory allergies while only 12 percent of other children had such allergies. The skin allergy rate for children with autism was almost 17 percent, compared to the nearly 10 percent rate among children not on the autism spectrum. “This finding is consistent with other findings relating the immune system to autism, including the maternal immune activation model of autism,” Thomas Frazier, PhD, chief science officer for Autism Speaks, told Healthline.

This most recent study was based on data from 199,520 children ages 3 to 17 who participated in the National Health Interview Survey between 1997 and 2016. Rates of food, respiratory, and skin allergies were obtained from questionnaires submitted by parents and guardians. Frazier said that while the causes of autism remain unknown, factors such as genetics, the environment, and the interaction of the two may play a role. The latter also seems to be the mechanism that triggers allergies. “Parents and clinical providers should be aware of the increased prevalence and ensure that individuals receive appropriate evaluation for allergies with subsequent treatment,” said Frazier. “This is particularly true for very young children and nonverbal or minimally verbal children who may not be able to express to parents or providers the effects of allergies.