Many parents of children with autism believe there is a link between autism and early childhood vaccinations, with special emphasis on the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. This belief began anecdotally as some...
For many years vaccinations have helped prevent numerous diseases and deaths of children. These pediatric vaccines, usually given as shots or by mouth, were appreciated and welcomed by many parents. A concern has been, however, on the possible...
While there is no one cure or prevention of autism, genetics and environmental factors seem to increase the risk of autism. Autism is a spectrum of developmental disabilities that cause social, behavioral and communication problems. There is hope...
Your immune system constantly changes and updates as you come into contact with various disease causing invaders throughout your lifetime. However, as an infant, you're only protected by the few temporary antibodies provided by your mother, and...
The DTaP vaccine protects against three potentially deadly diseases: diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that is easily spread between people. Similarly, pertussis can also be spread through the air or by...
Vaccines are complicated, so it's easy to see why there are misunderstandings---and no vaccine is as misunderstood as the influenza vaccine. Myths abound surrounding the flu shot, and the reasons people give for avoiding it are sometimes so deeply...
Chelation therapy has been used for decades as an effective cure for heavy metal poisoning. However, it's also touted as a way to "flush away" all sorts of other medical conditions. Unfortunately, chelation therapy is no quick fix. It's a...
Autism is a disorder diagnosed in childhood that is characterized by significant impairment in social interaction, communication, and behavior patterns. Symptoms are evident by the age of three. According to the Centers for Disease Control and...
EDTA chelation therapy has been used as an effective, FDA-approved treatment for heavy metal poisoning cases since the middle of the 20th century. It's also been used as a treatment for several other conditions, even though it's only been proven...
For reasons science can not fully explain, people with autism have larger, heavier brains than those without this disorder. The difference in size and weight can be seen in an MRI and can be used to confirm a diagnosis of autism (though not to...
Autism in toddlers affects several aspects of their development, including social skills, communication and behavior, says Medline Plus. Symptoms vary greatly among children with autism from very minor to very severe. The Mayo Clinic says genetics...
The influenza virus, or the flu, is an infection that attacks the respiratory tract. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common symptoms of this illness are fever, chills, headache, cough, body aches, fatigue, nasal congestion and loss of...
The flavonoid quercetin is an antioxidant. Flavonoids are a class of compounds with similar chemical structures. They are found in many foods, such as apples, blueberries and tea. Like other antioxidants, quercetin reduces the damage caused by...
Autism is a disorder that affects a person's ability to interact with others, use language, and behave as might be expected in a given situation. It's understandable that you'd want to look for any way possible to reduce your child's chances of...
Chelation therapy is a medical procedure designed to help purge toxins, most commonly heavy metals, from the bloodstream, according to the Mayo Clinic. The process works via the intravenous injection of a chelating agent, usually an amino acid...
Ideally, every infant would thrive in healthy, safe surroundings. An infant's development directly correlates with factors involving genetics or other physiological variables, the environment, nurturing and caregiving. Less than optimal conditions...
Mumps is caused by a virus that infects the parotid glands which are located under the ears. It is contracted through breathing in droplets from a sneeze or cough of an infected person. In countries where a vaccine is not widely given outbreaks...
Autism is a developmental delay that causes symptoms including lack of eye contact and speech difficulties in children. Although the cause is unknown, many different theories exist. Some focus on poor nutrition and environmental toxins. Others...
German measles is a viral disease, and it's transmitted the same way many viruses pass from one person to another: through close physical contact. You might contract the rubella virus that causes German measles through contact with an infected...
Autism is a complex disorder and its cause is not known. Some experts theorize that the diet of children may affect their autistic symptoms. Studies have examined the effects of vitamin B-12 on children with autism. However, vitamin B12...
Vaccines help to prevent diseases and save lives. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, vaccines are "the most successful medical advances of all time." Prior to vaccines, children were dying of diseases such as polio, whooping cough...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, preventable childhood diseases are at some of the lowest rates ever, primarily due to widespread vaccination programs. Immunization is recommended by most major medical associations,...
Chelation therapy is used to remove heavy metals and excess minerals from the body by consuming herbs or other supplements that bind to the metals. Originally, it was used as a medical treatment for those suffering from lead poisoning. Currently,...
No single therapy can treat autism by itself, and as of 2010 there is no cure for this condition. Many argue that the greatest chance for treatment success lies in a combination of interventions. While some treatments are widely accepted, others...
In 1911, the word "autism" was first used to describe a group of symptoms then associated with schizophrenia. The word "autism" comes from the Greek word "autos," meaning "self." In the 1940s, autism was beginning to be used to describe children...
Before the introduction of the polio vaccine, an average of 16,316 people in the U.S. contracted polio every year, but in 2008 not a single person living in the U.S. contracted the disease, according to the National Institute of Allergy and...
Getting vaccines is no picnic, either for your or your child. As the parent of a 14-month-old, you know how stressful vaccination time can be for both of you. Even worse than the tears following the shots are the days of discomfort that can occur...
Infants -- babies younger than 1 year of age -- require special care to help maintain health. This includes paying attention to their nutrients and helping to ensure that they are as protected as possible from the common diseases of childhood or...
It is estimated that one in nine children have some form of autism, according to an article in the Washington Post. Although educational programs are tailored to meet the needs of autistic children, other remedies are being sought. In a 1998 paper...
Autism is a genetic brain development disorder that affects social behavior and communication skills. Get professional tips and advice on treatments, causes, and symptoms of autism in this video.