Vaccinazioni per l’infanzia ed autismo: un caso accertato negli Stati Uniti

Mercoledì 9 Aprile 2008 - Gli studi clinici hanno fallito nel mostrare un legame tra vaccinazione ed autismo, ma molti genitori di bambini autistici hanno nutrito dubbi su queste conclusioni.

Il Governo americano ha ora ammesso che la vaccinazione può avere arrecato danni ad una bambina di 9 anni, ed ha annunciato che si farà carico delle spese per la cura.
Nel 2000 Hannah aveva 19 mesi ed uno sviluppo normale, quando ricevette 5 iniezioni per la prevenzione di 9 malattie infettive.
Nel 2001 alla bambina è stato diagnosticato il disturbo autistico.
Per il fatto che il padre di Hannah era un neurologo al Johns Hopkins Hospital, la bambina è stata sottoposta ad una serie di esami, che hanno evidenziato un disordine a livello mitocondriale.
Due teorie sono state ipotizzate: la prima che la bambina presentava una sottostante malattia mitocondriale e che la vaccinazione ha slatentizzato, la seconda è che la vaccinazione ha causato questo disordine.
Il Governo ha optato per la prima ipotesi: la bambina aveva una sottostante malattia mitocondriale che è stata aggravata dalla vaccinazione.
Molti dei vaccini che Hannah ha ricevuto contenevano Tiomersale, un preservativo a base di Mercurio.
Negli Stati Uniti, il Tiomersale è stato rimosso dai vaccini somministrati nell’infanzia a partire dal 2001.
Rimane aperto il dibattito sulle vaccinazioni multiple nell’infanzia. ( Xagena Medicina )
Fonte: The New York Times, 2008 - Medicina-Online.net  + vedi Autismo - La prova dei Danni dei Vaccini  +  Autismo dai VACCINI

The overt symptoms of ASD and mercury poisoning, described in the literature and presented here, are strikingly similar. Summary tables have been provided after each section to aid in symptom comparisons.

a.      Affect/Psychological Presentation
Since its initial description in 1943 by Leo Kanner, a psychiatrist, autism has been defined primarily as a psychiatric condition.  One of the three requirements for diagnosis is a severe deficit in social interactions (APA, 1994). Self and parental reports describe children and adults who prefer to be alone and who will withdraw to their rooms if given the chance (MAAP, 1996-1999).  Even high functioning autistics tend to be aloof, have poor social skills, are unable to make friends, and find conversationdifficult (Tonge et al, 1999; Capps et al, 1998).  Face recognition and what psychologists call "theory of mind" are impaired (Klin et al, 1999, Baron-Cohen et al, 1993).  Poor eye contact or gaze avoidance is present in most cases, especially in infancyand childhood (Bernabei et al, 1998).
The second psychobehavioral diagnostic characteristic of autism is the presence of repetitive, stereotyped activities and the need for sameness (APA, 1994).  Traits in this domain strongly resemble obsessive-compulsive tendencies in both thought and behavior (Lewis, 1996; Gillberg & Coleman, 1992, p.27), especially as the individual becomes more high functioning (Roux et al, 1998): "it [is] very difficult…to distinguish between obsessive ideation and the bizarre preoccupations so commonly seen in autistic individuals" (Howlin, 2000).  Serotonin uptake inhibitors known to be effective for OCD also reduce repetitive behaviors in some autistic patients (Lewis, 1996).  Most autistic subjects - 84% in one study - show high levels of anxiety and meet diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorder (Muris et al, 1998).
ASD has been linked to depression, based on symptoms, familial history of depression and the positive response to SSRIs among many autistics (Clarke et al, 1999; DeLong, 1999; Piven and Palmer, 1999).  One subset of autistics has been described as“passive”, with flat affect, “absence of facial expression,” lack of initiative, and diminished outward emotional reactions.  Some autistics have a strong family history of manic depression and mood swings, and, among those who are verbal, psychotic talk is frequently observed (Plioplys, 1989). Autism is also said to strongly resemble childhood schizophrenia.  In the past it was often misdiagnosed as such (Gillberg & Coleman, 1992, p.100), and there are a number of instances of dual ASD-schizophrenia diagnoses in the literature (Clarke et al, 1999). Furthermore, irrational fears, aggressive behaviors, and severe temper tantrums are common (Muris et al, 1998; McDougle et al, 1994), as are chronic hyperarousal and irritability (Jaselskis et al, 1992).  “Inexplicable changes of mood can occur, with giggling and laughing or crying for no apparent reason” (Wing & Attwood, 1987).
Mercury poisoning, when undetected, is often initially diagnosed as a psychiatric disorder in both children and adults (Fagala and Wigg, 1992).  Common psychiatric symptoms are (a) depression, including “lack of interest” and “mental confusion;” (b) "extreme shyness," indifference to others, active avoidance of others or “a desire to be alone”; (c) irritability in adults and tantrums in children; and (d) anxiety and fearfulness.  Neurosis, including schizoid and obsessive-compulsive traits, has been reported in a number of cases (Fagala and Wigg, 1992; Kark et al, 1971; O’Carroll et al, 1995; Florentine and Sanfilippo, 1991; Amin-Zaki, 1974 and 1979; Matheson et al, 1980; Joselow et al, 1972; Smith, 1972; Lowell, 1996; Tuthill, 1899; Clarkson, 1997; Camerino et al, 1981; Grandjean et al, 1997; Piikivi et al, 1984; Rice, 1996; Vroom & Greer, 1972; Adams et al, 1973; Hua et al, 1996).
Juvenile monkeys prenatally exposed to mercury exhibit decreased social play and increased passive behavior (Gunderson et al, 1986, 1988), as well as impaired face recognition (Rice,1996).  Humans exposed to mercury vapor also perform poorly on face recognition tests and may present with a “mask face” (Vroom & Greer, 1972); emotional instability can occur in children and adults exposed to Hg. For instance, Iraqi children poisoned by methylmercury had a tendency “to cry, laugh, or smile without obvious provocation” (Amin-Zaki et al, 1974 & 1979), like the autistic group described by Wing and Attwood (1987).

Since traditionally autism has been characterized and studied by researchers primarily in psychiatric terms, providing case studies illustrating the psychiatric aspects of ASD and of mercurialism are necessary in establishing the similarities of the two disorders on this critical domain. Also included is a comparison of "Lenny," an autistic adult described by Rhea Paul (1987), and the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland, considered to be an accurate portrayal of victims of the disease. Of particular relevance in all these cases are social withdrawal and deficits in social communication, traits (i) always prominent in autism and (ii) clearly associated with mercurialism

Case Studies:  Autism

“I am 18 years old.  My parents found out I was autistic when I was 18 months old.  My parents said I banged my head a lot when I got frustrated when I was young.  Head banging motions help me deal with nervousness.  I also take 2 medications to help me cope with stress.  I have very few friends.  It is also somewhat painful for me to look people in the eye.  This sometimes makes people think I am not paying attention” (The MAAP, Vol. II, 1997).

  “I have a high-functioning autistic eight-year-old boy.  My mistake was putting him in the second grade with a teacher who was determined to ‘socialize’ him.  After three months, the anxiety proved to be too great for him.  He spent a lot of time crying, withdrawing to his room, becoming compulsive and belligerent.  In another era, he would have been seen as having a ‘nervous breakdown’” (The MAAP, Vol. II, 1997).

  “I am writing regarding our 25 year old son who was diagnosed only a few months ago as having Asperger’s Syndrome.  All his life he displayed the ‘classic’ symptoms of Asperger’s (lack of social skills, disorganization, anxiety, etc.).  A few months ago, he became clinically depressed, phobic about being around people for fear of more rejection or being laughed at.  He now has obsessive thoughts that our home is electronically‘bugged’ and all his actions are being observed and belittled” (The MAAP, Vol. II, 1997).

  “Several people have asked me what it’s like to have Asperger’s Syndrome.  Today, I still prefer to work on my computer or with electronics rather than socialize.  I’ve never been able to tolerate any kind of physical contact or intimacy.  I like wrestling and rough-housing, but I hate being caressed or held.” (The MAAP, Vol. II, 1997).

  “My son Brian is a 6-year-old with high functioning autism.  Our main problem now is his rigidity and obsessive/compulsive behaviors.  He gets extremely upset when activities don’t go as he thinks they should.  He first gets mad, screaming and yelling, then begins to obsessively talk about how he can remedy the situation, then often begins to cry uncontrollably.  These tantrums can go on for hours” (The MAAP, Vol. IV, 1996).

  “[I’m] age 12½.  I have Autism/PDD.  I don’t really know any real social skills, though my brother Isaiah says I am a social outcast.  I do have trouble making new friends because I get real shy and nervous” (The MAAP, Vol. IV, 1997).

  “I am the mother of three autistic boys.  Nate was considered very shy.  Poor eye contact but very smart and doing well in school.  Nate was also diagnosed with Hypotonia of the face (which answered all the mumbling he did wasn’t just shyness) and extremities” (The MAAP, Vol. III, 1999)

  “I spent many hours sitting in the trees or under the bed or in a dark closet.  I had a loud flat voice.  Socialization has always been beyond me” (The MAAP, Vol. II, 1998).

  “I sit in my room a prisoner to my autism.  Mom and sis doing their loving best to get me out.  I wanted to get out – really get out.  I wanted to love, to feel, to connect.  But, I couldn’t.  I was stuck.  I was slowly dying.  There were days I truly wanted to end it all.  If any days were good, I didn’t deserve it.  I shouldn’t be happy.  Autism teaches you that – because it’s a life sentence” (The MAAP, Vol. VI, 1996).

Case Studies:  Mercury Poisoning

A 12 year old girl with recent mercury vapor poisoning was initially diagnosed as having a psychiatric disturbance.  Her behavior was more normal when she was unaware of being watched.  She became upset when people were around, was reluctant to speak when others were present, spoke in a soft, mumbling voice, lacked eye contact, had a flat affect, was sometimes tearful, experienced auditory hallucinations of voices laughing at her, wished to stay alone in her room with the lights off and her head covered, and had frequent temper tantrums (Fagala and Wigg, 1992).

  Sufferers of Mad Hatter’s disease, arising from prolonged mercury vapor exposure, were known to suffer from depression, lassitude, acute anxiety, and irrational fears.  They also became nervous, timid, and shy.  They blushed readily, were embarrassed in social situations, objected to being watched, and sought to avoid people.  They felt a constant impulse to return home.  They were easily upset, and were prone to agitation, irritability, anger, and aggressive behavior (O’Carroll et al, 1995).

  A survey on an Internet site of adult acrodynia victims, which compared the symptoms of adults who suffered from acrodynia as children with controls, reported the following symptoms as seen to a greater degree in acrodynia sufferers than in controls:  dislikes being touched or hugged, is a loner, lacks self confidence, feels nervousness and has a racing heart, has depression and suicidal feelings (Farnesworth, 1997).  One acrodynia victim described his own situation:  “not having learnt normal social skills I spent a lot of my time alone…Gradually by age 11 or so, I was becoming ‘normal’…But, I have never overcome the headache problem, irritability, shyness with real people, not wanting to be touched, depression, fear of doctors, great anxiety…” (Neville's Recollection, Pink Disease site)

  A doctor from the 19th century described several cases of mercury poisoning from dental amalgams:  “There is mental excitability as well as mental depression; perplexing events cause the highest degree of excitement, ordinary conversation sometimes causes complete confusion, headache, palpitation, intense solicitude, and anxiety, without reason for it.  Such are some of the symptoms attending these cases.”  As an example he cites the case of a young woman who “had come to be melancholic and to withdraw herself from her family and friends, seeking the seclusion of her room -- refusing to go out or to associate with others, or even with the members of her own household.”  (Tuthill, 1899)

  Nearly a century later, initial questioning of a 28 year old woman, subsequently found to have mercury vapor poisoning, “elicited the fact that she had become increasingly withdrawn from social activities and had felt most uncomfortable when with strangers.  She also felt that her friends had turned against her.  She had a repetitive disturbing dream of electric fire around the frames of the windows in her bedroom.”  (Ross et al, 1977)

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