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Autistic symptoms in children with infantile hydrocephalus
E Fernell1, C Gillberg, L von Wendt
1Department of Paediatrics II, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Insights
Children with Infantile Hydrocephalus (IH) show higher rates of autistic symptoms, particularly those with severe brain damage. Early detection and specific neuropsychiatric support are crucial for affected families.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Infantile Hydrocephalus (IH) is a condition characterized by excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.
- Autistic symptoms can co-occur with various neurological conditions.
- Understanding the relationship between IH and autism is crucial for comprehensive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of autistic symptoms in children with Infantile Hydrocephalus.
- To identify etiological and clinical factors associated with autistic symptoms in IH patients.
Main Methods:
- A population-based series of 69 children with IH were assessed for autistic symptoms using a modified Autism Behavior Checklist.
- Patients were categorized into those with autistic symptoms (AS) and without (non-AS) for comparison.
Main Results:
- 23% of IH children exhibited scores indicative of autistic symptoms.
- Children with autistic symptoms were more likely to be born preterm (44% vs 9%) and have major CT scan abnormalities (64% vs 28%).
- Higher incidence of epilepsy (50% vs 9%), mental retardation (88% vs 23%), and cerebral palsy (50% vs 19%) was observed in the AS group.
Conclusions:
- Severe brain damage in children with Infantile Hydrocephalus is associated with an increased likelihood of autistic symptomatology.
- This finding underscores the need for specialized neuropsychiatric services for families of children with IH.
Abstract:
From a population-based series of children with Infantile Hydrocephalus (IH) 69 patients (mean age 11.7 years) were examined with respect to the occurrence of autistic symptoms. Autistic symptomatology was evaluated according to a modified short Swedish version of the so-called Autism Behavior Checklist. Sixteen of the 69 IH children (23%) reached a score which was considered indicative of autistic symptoms (AS) in the child. This group was compared with the remaining 53 IH children without autistic symptoms (non AS). Significant differences were found between these two groups with respect to aetiological and clinical data. In the AS group 44% were born preterm as compared to 9% in the non AS group. CT scan showed major abnormalities in 64% of the AS children while this was present in 28% in the non AS group. The occurrence of major neuroimpairments--epilepsy, mental retardation and cerebral palsy--was 50%, 88% and 50% in the AS group as compared to 9%, 23% and 19% respectively in the non AS group. It was concluded that the more severe the brain damage in children with IH the more likely that autistic symptomatology would ensue. This implies that specific neuropsychiatric services to these families are required.