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Weaning time of children with infantile autism
Insights
Early weaning in infancy may increase the risk of developing autism. This study found a significant association between early weaning and autism diagnosis in children, suggesting a potential link to the condition's development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Child Psychology
- Autism Etiology Research
Background:
- Early weaning in infancy is linked to increased susceptibility to infections.
- Previous research indicates a correlation between lower breastfeeding rates and higher incidence of infantile autism in certain socioeconomic groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To statistically compare weaning times in children diagnosed with autism (by DSM-III criteria) against a control group of neurotypical children.
- To investigate the potential contribution of early weaning to the etiology of infantile autism.
Main Methods:
- A comparative statistical analysis was performed on weaning data from 145 children diagnosed with autism and 224 typically developing children.
- Data included the timing of weaning and reasons for weaning (maternal vs. child-related conditions).
Main Results:
- A significantly higher percentage of children with autism (24.8%) were weaned within the first week compared to controls (7.5%).
- Early weaning due to maternal conditions was also significantly more prevalent in the autism group (17.9%) versus controls (5.8%).
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a statistically significant association between early weaning practices and the diagnosis of infantile autism.
- Early weaning may be a contributing factor to the development of autism, warranting further investigation into the underlying mechanisms.
Abstract:
Since early weaning in infancy has been known to result in vulnerability to infection, weaning times of 145 children diagnosed as autistic by DSM-III were statistically compared with those of 224 normal children in the same catchment area: 24.8% of the patients and 7.5% of the controls were weaned by the end of 1 week, a significant difference. Early weaning because of the mother's rather than the child's condition occurred with 17.9% of the patients and 5.8% of the controls, also a significant difference. Historical studies on infantile autism revealed that the disease developed more prevalently in the socioeconomic status where the incidence of breast-feeding was less frequent. These results suggest that early weaning may contribute to the etiology of infantile autism.