Autism Treatment – Clostridia & Regression

The issue of regression comes up quite often inyeast and clostridia bacteria markers and they
my practice. Specifically I’d like to cover theare called the Organic Acid Test and the Microbial
issue of regression following antibiotic use orOrganic Acid Test, both from Great Plains Labs.
antifungal treatment. For example, your child hasThe clostridia marker is a metabolic toxin called
recently been on an antibiotic or antifungalHPHPA and can be found on these tests. Some
prescriptions like Nystatin, Diflucan or Nizoral orof those negative behaviors seen in children with
herbal treatments like oregano oil or grapefruitAutism can be caused by those metabolic toxins
seed extract and instead of improvement ininterfering with brain chemicals.
behavior you see regression. And specifically youThe reason you see regression when using an
see a worsening of behavior in regards to greaterantifungal is because yeast and clostridia live in a
irritability, aggression, self injury and withdrawal.state of constant competition in the digestive
The most common cause is some type oftract. When one is being treated then many times
underlying bacterial issue.the other one can get worse. When you have a
Clostridia is a common bacteria present in manyyeast overgrowth and are treating it and also
children on the spectrum. There are quite a fewhave clostridia overgrowth and don’t treat
different forms of clostridia bacteria, one formthat at the same time, the clostridia can get
called clostridia dificil can cause a form ofworse because it has less yeast to compete with.
inflammatory bowel disease, We are not talkingAntibiotic use can also encourage clostridia growth
about that form when we talk about thebecause antibiotics also kill the beneficial bacteria in
regression seen in these kids although its toxicthe digestive tract that help fight the clostridia as
byproducts could be responsible for somewell. So, often times clostridia overgrowth can be
negative behaviors. But we are generally coveringthe cause of regression following antibiotic or
the broad family of clostridia, not just one strain.antifungal use.
There are tests that can look at the specific