title: [Neuropediatric approach to autism].
abstract: Autism is defined by 3 main criteria: disturbance of reciprocal social interaction, disturbance of communication (including language comprehension and spoken language) and disturbance of normal variation in behaviour and imaginative activities; an onset before age 36 months is also required. The neuropediatric contribution to autism is dominated by the search for an underlying organic etiology, especially if there are arguments for an associated encephalopathy: ante- or perinatal medical history, dysmorphic signs, skin spots, neurological abnormalities, somatic abnormalities compatible with a neurometabolic disorder. The main associated conditions with autism are: chromosome anomalies, monogenic syndrome (including fragile X syndrome), neurocutaneous syndromes, epileptic encephalopathies, neurometabolic diseases, and dystrophinopathies. The identification of an associated medical condition to autism is primordial in prospect of genetic counselling, and by the change induced in familial perception of autism.
authors.affiliation: Service de neuropédiatrie, hôpital Roger-Salengro, CHRU, 59037 Lille cedex, France. jm-cuisset@chru-lille.fr
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cuisset
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joriot
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Auvin
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gozé
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Medjkane
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salloum
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delion
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vallée
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005195:Family Relations; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009462:Neurology; D010372:Pediatrics; D012307:Risk Factors