Autism or Autism-Autism?
I get that autism has a severity spectrum. I get that it’s a very scientific term, but this, “Oh, your son doesn’t have autism, he has encephalitis-induced autism-like symptoms” garbage is just pissing people off.
It’s like when I tell my kids, “Pick up the Legos,” and they get all mad at me insisting that they are not playing with Legos, they are playing with Duplos.
WTFE, you guys! Just pick up after yourselves!
You see…
- Merck Vaccines Division’s Julie Gerberding did confirm to CBS News while she was still Director of the CDC that, “if you’re predisposed with the mitochondrial disorder, it can certainly set off some damage. Some of the symptoms can be symptoms that have characteristics of autism.”
- US Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) confirmed to CBS News that of 1322 cases of vaccine injury compensation were settled out of court by the US Government saying, “We have compensated cases in which children exhibited an encephalopathy, or general brain disease. Encephalopathy may be accompanied by a medical progression of an array of symptoms including autistic behavior, autism, or seizures.”
Dr. Wakefield
Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s paper questioning a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism was published in the Lancet in 1998. The vaccine industry regularly reminds us that his paper was a giant fraud. In The British Medical Journal, authors allegedly accused Wakefield “of fraud and of fraudulently and intentionally manipulating and falsifying data and diagnoses.” Wakefield was also accused of having a financial conflict of interest by pro-vaxers across the globe for accepting payment from lawyers representing families with autistic children. In reality though, not a single penny of the Legal Aid Board (LAB) money was spent on the Lancet paper in question. The LAB grant was provided for a separate viral detection study. This latter study, completed in 1999, does disclose the Legal Aid Board funding. The controversial Lancet paper had been submitted for publication to the journal before the LAB grant was even available.
Though incidentally, speaking of conflicts of interest:
- 2008: Merck, using its trade name MSD, signed a partnership agreement with the BMJ (British Medical Journal) Group that effectively gave the company control of 350 interactive continuing medical education courses in over 20 medical therapy areas.
- 2009: Merck’s Univadis entered into a partnership with The Lancet providing “medical education and an information website.”
The Gut Connection
Even in his early work, Wakefield noticed a connection between gut dysfunction and the MMR vaccine. (See here.) I can’t help but wonder if Merck knew he was on to something. If they did, the 2010 Wakefield Scandal would be all the juicier for those who believe that Merck will do anything for a few billion dollars. Here’s why my Intellisense is tingling…
Researchers from Columbia University just published a study making another autism/gut connection. (Read more here.) The researchers found a relatively large amount of Sutterella bacteria in 12 out of 23 tissue samples taken from the guts of children with autism. Here’s the odd thing though: They did not find this type of bacteria in any samples taken from children without autism who were studied for comparison.
Sutterella was discovered rather recently. It was first studied and named in 1996. (Read paper here.) They don’t know if it’s new to humans or if it’s just newly discovered. They also don’t know the order of which came first: Autism, Sutterella in the gut, or MMR “autism-like” adverse reactions.
Before we keep mandating…
Seriously, who knows what this link means. It could be that a weakened system leads to both rampant Sutterella and Autism-like symptoms. That could be all it is. I’m sure the puzzle is far more complex though. Aside from a personal liberties issue, mandating for this particular vaccine just got even more shady to a lot of people on the fence about it given this interesting connection with Wakefield’s past work.
Before continued mandates on our nation’s young children, in light of this new information:
- As we’ve been saying all along, more actual unbiased safety tests need to occur. Even if the vaccine has nothing to do with autism, we still deserve better, long term safety tests and until that happens, mandates should not be occurring for relatively normal sicknesses.
- Every vaccine ingredient needs to be studied for the possible contamination with materials that could proliferate or contain Sutterella or other newly discovered gut flora that could also degrade mitochondria.
- Since Sutterella shows antibiotic resistance, our use of antibiotics in the food or water supply should be examined.
- What effect Sutterella has on the mitochondria and behavior of the canine species where strains were also found should be explored. Could this be from a similar food source? Could this be from antibiotics? Could this be from vaccines?
- Since Sutterella appears to be a relatively new bacterium and sometimes found in human fecal samples, we need to explore how genetically modified foods impact our gut bacteria .
- Further investigations into all of the potential odd-ball puzzle pieces and/or causes need to occur, such as:
- Cord blood loss from immediate umbilical cord clamping.
- The facial feature link to a genetic predisposition to mitochondria disease and autism.
Certainly though, I’m not interested in “investigations” from Merck or the FDA on this matter. They had their chance and repeatedly prove themselves horribly corrupt. We need someone to head a team of researchers who is willing to stand up to the FDA and Merck on behalf of our children. I hear Dr. Wakefield is out of a job…
The wake of Wakefield
When even questioning the MMR vaccine, I am usually countered by angry pro-vax science advocates who ask me, “Do you have any idea how many of our children died because that man scared parents out of giving their children the MMR vaccine?” Why, yes, actually I do have a pretty good idea of how many US children died from measles, mumps, rubella and their complications since his 1998 article was published:
Approximately 5 per every one million US youths (up to age 24) died through 2007 (latest available data as of the compilation date) after Dr. Wakefield’s controversial paper was published and people started delaying or refusing the MMR vaccination. Now, statistically that’s basically nothing, because that’s to .0005% of the population. Though, I know the pro-vax argument. “That is statistically nothing to you, but think about those children! If we could have prevented one death…”
Hmmm…. Well, in the same 9 year time frame before Wakefield’s paper sent MMR vaccination rates into a dive bomb, wanna know what the per million rate was?
I do:
And before anyone spouts the stuff about “costs of medical care or time off work” for a family taking care of measles, mumps or rubella complications, I suggest you also consider the costs of autism. And as for the fact that I didn’t include data for people permanently injured by these diseases during this generation, well, that’s because I couldn’t find any. Nor do I even know anyone who is disabled from them. I don’t even know anyone from my parent’s generation who is disabled from them. I get that it happened, the pediatrician explained that to me. I get that some of you will know someone that it happened to. I just haven’t encountered it. I do know countless children with autism or ASD though, and I’m absolutely certain that you do too.
Besides, what if we’re supposed to get these diseases?
Research suggests that getting these viruses reduced chronic disease and cancers in previous generations and even that measles could be used to treat cancer. (Read this one too about the therapy’s past.) So, I guess I should consider myself lucky…
I was just talking with my mom about how when I was a child, I got the MMR, and then promptly got Measles. <—{ Speaking of anecdotes.}
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12 comments
3 pings
A Ventography!
January 16, 2012 at 4:54 pm (UTC -4)
Great post!
If you’re interested…
http://ventography.wordpress.com/2012/01/14/acetaminophen-and-its-possible-connection-to-the-rise-in-autism/
It looks like Johnson and Johnson may have left some fingerprints at Wakefield’s crucification, too.
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/central-texas-digest-autism-center-gets-new-name-1459998.html
Dawn
January 16, 2012 at 11:17 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you! And yes, I’m always interested in good info!
Twyla
January 19, 2012 at 1:47 am (UTC -4)
The same people who say that 5 in 1,000,000 children dying of measles is incredibly significant would also say that several children out of a million dying from a vaccine is totally insignificant.
Sam
May 9, 2012 at 8:30 pm (UTC -4)
Well said. Completely.
Infuriating, isn’t it?!
Sierra
January 19, 2012 at 1:48 am (UTC -4)
Thank you for such an awesome post! My son is now recovered from autism and healing his gut was the biggest piece. Oh, one more thing to add- every claim against Dr. Wakefield came from one reporter working for a paper run by James Murdoch (Rupert Murdoch’s son), who was appointed to the board of GlaxoSMithKline with the specific job to “review…external issues that might have the potential for serious impact upon the group’s business and reputation.” Within several weeks of this appointment his paper had ruin 5 articles attacking Dr Wakefield. He has been paid well for his work with GSK. No one seemed interested that the reporter in this case, Brian Deer, used the same unethical practices that got other Murdoch papers into a great deal of trouble.
Dawn
January 19, 2012 at 8:42 am (UTC -4)
That’s an awesome point that I really should have addressed. I knew the information, but couldn’t remember the name and could find nothing. And also, you have no idea how many sites were found to be “dangerous” while researching this post. (Notice the previous blog about internet security programs censoring health info.) So I very much appreciate the specific information. Thank you!
Sam
May 9, 2012 at 8:32 pm (UTC -4)
I’m pretty sure that Dr Paul Offit (Dr Profit) – one of the vaccine industry’s most vocal ‘spokesperson’ and promoter – was responsible for kicking off the accusations about Dr Wakefield.
jimmy
February 1, 2012 at 5:10 pm (UTC -4)
I really like what you are saying, and am glad I found your website. Please keep it up.
Sian Morton
February 12, 2012 at 1:11 am (UTC -4)
I have had first had experience of people permanently and significantly affected by measles, mumps, rubella and polio. Two of these people are close acquaintances (and one of them has told me he feels so strongly about vaccination he would almost like to strangle anti-vaccination activists with his bare hands – not seriously, of course). The other two were while I worked in hospitals in the early 1980s. In the late 1980s my rural GP husband had to fly out a very sick child with epiglottitis (caused by HiB). I am only 49. I would suggest that your life experiences simply haven’t been broad enough to rely on anecdotes to support your argument.
Dawn
February 12, 2012 at 1:27 am (UTC -4)
I’ve had first had experience with absolutely COUNTLESS individuals suffering from diseases that are admitted side effects of vaccines, EXCLUDING AUTISM and “autism-like behavior.” My most upsetting first hand experience is the first hand experiences I’ve had with my own daughter.
Oh, and Sian, I know I look young… but I’m not a baby, so don’t play the age card. I am 35 and a mother of three. I have spent quite literally hundreds and hundreds of hours reading through Merck’s Manuals and studies and professional product inserts trying to deduce what happened to my child. After having seen an allergist and had highly upsetting allergy tests done for my small child, my doctor and I have concluded that we will not vaccinate her any more.
Now, as for my anecdotes supporting my argument, please advice what arguments you are referring to and which argument exactly because this entire post has no actual argument except that we should test the safety of our vaccines, our food supply and our medicine and see if any of them are causing an overgrowth of Sutterella. Are you saying we should not research this more?
Dawn
February 12, 2012 at 1:31 am (UTC -4)
Oh lookie there, just noticed your e-mail… you’re from Australia. Got it. You saw something posted by that creepy stalker group, didn’t you.
Sam
May 9, 2012 at 8:48 pm (UTC -4)
A) Breastfeed. For a ‘long’ time (no, 2, 3, 4 months won’t cut it. Think years).
B) Eat well. Malnutrition is dangerous. Plenty of fresh fruit and veg keeps the immune system healthy
C) Know how to treat the disease(s).
Are you aware that the majority of deaths from ‘Measles and Measles complications’ are actually due to hypothermia due to poor practices?
Measles results in a high fever. If it is not managed correctly it can induce seizures (fitting) which cause brain damage.
The issue is that many parents and even HCPs are ignorant of how to deal with this and reduce temperatures. Instead of using loose covers and regularly sponging down with tepid (room temperature) water, the child is bundled up and given artificial pain and fever reducers (infant paracetomol). Which masks symptoms and allows core temperature to spike without warning.
Even worse is when a child with measles is taken into hospital. The parents think they are doing the right thing, but it is the worst thing they can do, as children’s wards are kept very warm, and they are bright! Duvets are heavy and warm.
One such case happened only recently in the UK (within the last 5 years) of a young child who went into hospital with Measles, and her fever was not managed, shestarted fitting and had repeated seizures which they could not stop, the fitting caused severe brain damage and she was later declared brain dead and the life support was switched off.
It’s terribly sad and I would not wish it on anyone. But if treated correctly, Measles is not at all serious, unless the person is severely immuno-compromised.
But, keeping them in a dark, cool room, and sponging down regularly to keep the temperature down (plus plenty of vitamins C & A if well enough to eat – that means fruit such as plums) is really the best course of action.
Guest Post: Children with autism have significantly different gut bacteria « A boy with Asperger's
January 24, 2012 at 7:08 am (UTC -4)
[...] Autism researcher Wakefield was more right than we gave him credit for. (intellipissies.com) [...]
Intellipissies Deny Science, Favor Conspiracy Theory « Intellipissies
February 2, 2012 at 7:31 pm (UTC -4)
[...] that are absolutely dripping with medical quackery regarding vaccines. Take for example the Wakefield post. I was a raving lunatic when I suggested things [...]
Nonvaxers risking children’s health because of herd-immunity concerns? Oh… I beg to differ. »
April 14, 2012 at 10:34 pm (UTC -4)
[...] You will see some deaths from measles prior to mandated vaccination policies. The numbers are very low though. The WHO pulls their death rates from third world nations where children are starving and pretends like our nation could see those same death statistics if we don’t listen to them. In actuality, as people backed off the MMR as a result of the Wakefield/autism link, the measles death rate in the US actually went DOWN. [...]