Autism: It may be caused by Lyme disease, and now even doctors think so, too
Lyme disease, the debilitating disease that’s caused by a tic bite, may be a cause of autism. A group of doctors in America has agreed to begin preliminary investigations by finding out how many autistic children under their care also have Lyme disease, or Borrelia infection.
Parents of autistic children and alternative therapists have mooted the possible connection for several years, but it took on more of an official status after a ‘think tank’ was established during a conference last January.
Physicians who attended agreed to test their autistic patients for Lyme disease, and they intend to tell other doctors if they discover a connection.
They suspect autism may also be caused by other infections, too.
They hope to announce their initial findings at another meeting, which is planned for June.
(Source: Townsend Letter, 2007; 285: 26).
E-news broadcast 29 March 2007 No.346 [
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