Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and autistic spectrum disorder: What do doctors need to tell the parents?
Journal Title: Postępy Nauk Medycznych - Year 2010, Vol 23, Issue 5
Abstract
Autism is a complex developmental disorder of multifaceted and not yet fully understood etiology. Autistic characteristics occur along a spectrum of three disorders, commonly referred to in clinical literature as autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). One of the purported causes of ASD that has received much public and political attention is measles-mumps-rubella vaccination (MMR). In 1998 Wakefield et al. published a study in which the authors proposed a hypothesis on the link between MMR and autism. Since then multiple experiments and meta-analyses have shown this hypothesis to be wrong. Despite the fact that the research evidence does not point to a causal link between MMR vaccination and ASD, and despite the serious medical problems associated with failure to vaccinate against these childhood diseases, there are many individuals, mainly parents of children with autism, who have arrived at conclusions based largely on personal experience pointing to MMR as the cause of their child’s disorder. Pediatricians and family doctors are encouraged to educate parents about lack of connection between MMR and autism, so that parents do not refuse to vaccinate children
Authors and Affiliations
Monika Suchowierska, Gary Novak
Keywords
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