Autism in Children Caused by Vaccinations

One of the most volatile issues on the topic of pervasive developmental disorders is whether or not autism in children is caused by vaccinations. Many parents and professionals believe that there is a direct link between vaccinations and autism while others discount the notion.

Autism vaccination rulings

Hannah Poling received several vaccines at the age of 19 months in one well-visit to her pediatrician in order to catch up on the required vaccinations for her age. Within two days, she developed the following symptoms:

• High fever
• Loss of language
• Inconsolable crying
• Insomnia
• Refused to walk

Earlier, Hannah displayed the signs of autism including staring at fans and lights, and engaging in self-stimulatory behaviors at three months of age. Though Hannah had some of the early symptoms of autism, her conditions became considerably worse after receiving the multiple vaccination shots at 19 months.

When Hannah was nine years old, federal health officials found that vaccines contributed her autistic symptoms. However, the conclusion does not admit a direct link between autism and vaccines. The suggestion is that the vaccines aggravated an underlying condition that led to the symptoms of autism in Hannah.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is actively seeking access to the official court documents in the Poling case. The documents are sealed from public access. However, a leaked document was posted online that states the Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation concludes that the multiple shots aggravated Hannah’s brain disorder.

U.S. Department of Justice is not releasing the records about the Hannah Poling case to the public. The Poling family’s attorney, Cliff Shoemaker has requested via petition to allow the government and the family to discuss the case and to release the case’s records. Dr. Jon Poling coauthored an article about Hannah’s condition in the Journal of Child Neurology in 2006.

The primary connection between autism and vaccines in the Poling case seems to be Hannah’s underlying mitochondrial dysfunction. The mitochondria produce energy within cells. When they do not function properly, affected systems in the body—including the brain—fail. Some individuals may be genetically predisposed to sensitivity to environmental conditions including medication. Mitochondrial disorder can be aggravated by starvation, illness and extreme environmental conditions. Some assert that individuals who have mitochondrial dysfunction problems cannot produce the necessary energy required to ward off the elements introduced to the cells by the vaccines.

The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation asserts that one in 4,000 children develop mitochondrial dysfunction by the time they reach age ten. The condition can also develop in adults. Mitochondrial disease is often misdiagnosed as seizure disorders, atypical cerebral palsy and other diseases.

Many professionals suggest that there is no direct link between mitochondrial dysfunction and autism. Most autistic children do not have mitochondrial disease according to Dr. Bruce Cohen. Cohen is a Cleveland Clinic pediatric neurologist and the former president of the Mitochondrial Medicine Society. More information about mitochondrial dysfunction and autism is available through the Autism Research Institute and Defeat Autism Now.

Until the information about Hannah Poling’s case is released, it is impossible to understand how this applies to other cases in which autism in children caused by vaccinations is suspect. There are findings that there are genetic causes of autism. The question is whether some children should be put on a different vaccination schedule.

The threat of illness is great when children do not receive their vaccinations. Parents are urged to vaccination their children by the Center for Disease Control and many medical professionals. The US Department of Health and Human Services insists that vaccines do not cause autism. The threat of disease is real for children who are not properly vaccinated. Parents can work with their children’s pediatricians to determine the best course of action if mitochondrial disease is suspect or if pervasive developmental disorders are present in other family members.

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