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| Autism |
Doctors admit that as of now they do not know much about this disease. And are trying to know the exact cause of this disease and its diagnosis. What changes it causes in the nervous system? and how can it be treated?
Noted Neurologist, Dr Pankaj Gupta said, "Doctors want to know about the symptoms of the disease. Generally, autistic disorders are characterised by involvement of speech, social communication, restricted interest, repetitive behaviour etc.
Patients, who are usually children exhibit the following like they do not use eyes, hands, gestures, postures to regulate social conversation. Lost in their world and being oblivious is bliss for them.
Secondly, they fail to develop relationships, as they do not have friends, and also fail to read expressions on others face.
The child may be seen disproportionately preoccupied with something, which is out of context and may appear abnormal. Thus, instead of the TV the child may be preoccupied only with the remote obsessively.
"The patient may adhere to non-functional routines or rituals. Thus, the child may comb his hair in a particular way every few hours even when not needed. Similar, repetitive, useless mannerisms like finger flapping, twisting, complex whole body movements, twirling hairs etc, may be seen despite attempts by concerned parents to stop them, but which usually evokes anger and resistance," Dr Gupta said.
Pointedly, many children may have seizures, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorder, depression, and behavioural abnormality (aggressive or self-injuring behaviour, temper tantrums and disorganised behaviour).
However,the disease is noticed in a child less than 3 years of age but usually more than 6 months. Males are affected more commonly than females. They are more good looking than their siblings. A small subgroup may be a prodigy and have extra ordinary mathematical or visio-motor capabilities or musical capability.
"The condition is life long. To add to the woes of the parents, in our country there are no health workers trained in dealing with these kids. Very few institutions cater to autistic children specifically," the neurologist said.
After a delayed diagnosis by a neurologist or a psychiatrist, the patients and their family languish life long for want of information or help.
Dr Gupta pointed out that the need of the hour is to immediately start a course for preparing health care workers, who can deal with autistic children's in medical colleges.
Sources: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
