Etiologies of autism in a case-series from Tanzania.
Most autism has a genetic cause although post-encephalitis cases are reported. In a case-series (N = 20) from Tanzania, 14 met research criteria for autism. Three (M:F = 1:2) had normal development to age 22, 35, and 42 months, with onset of autism upon recovery from severe malaria, attended by prolonged high fever, convulsions, and in one case prolonged loss of consciousness. In four other cases (M:F = 3:1), the temporal relationship between onset of autism and severe infection was close, but possibly spurious since malaria is common in Tanzania and there were indications of abnormal development in the child or a family member. In seven cases, (M:F = 6:1) autism onset was unrelated to malaria. The excess of non-verbal cases (N = 10) is related local diagnostic practice.
Mankoski
Raymond E
RE
Tufts University School of Medicine and Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA, USA.
Collins
Martha
M
Ndosi
Noah K
NK
Mgalla
Ella H
EH
Sarwatt
Veronica V
VV
Folstein
Susan E
SE
D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior; D013636:Tanzania