| The exact cause of autism is unknown with | | | | Center for the Study of Autism in Oregon |
| theories ranging from the result of immunization, | | | | treated autistic children for a yeast overgrowth. |
| genetics, or a combination of both. However, | | | | They demonstrated that once gut flora levels |
| latest findings have demonstrated that there may | | | | returned to normal, the children showed a |
| also be an autism yeast infection link. | | | | decrease in hyperactivity and self-stimulatory |
| So what does yeast have to do with autism? | | | | behavior, as well as better eye contact and more |
| Studies show that autistic children have different | | | | restful sleep. There was also evidence of |
| 'gut flora' when compared to non-autistic children. | | | | increased concentration and improve verbal |
| Generally, healthy "good" bacteria are at work | | | | abilities. |
| throughout the digestive tract to keep the | | | | When treating yeast infections it is important to |
| digestive system operating normally. However, | | | | note that if the anti-fungal treatment is halted too |
| repeated doses of antibiotics (as would be | | | | early the yeast is likely to return, and it may be |
| prescribed, for example, for a regular childhood | | | | more aggressive, having developed some |
| ear infection), or even exposure to common | | | | resistance to the drugs that had been used to |
| childhood diseases such as chicken pox, can | | | | treat it. Generally, the recommendation is for an |
| destroy a large amount of the necessary gut | | | | autistic child to proceed with antifungal therapy for |
| flora, permitting Candida - an aggressive and | | | | a minimum of six months in order to maintain |
| opportunistic yeast infection - to grow and flourish. | | | | improvements. |
| Even in children who have not suffered from | | | | However, with use of antifungal therapy, drugs |
| many common childhood diseases or who have | | | | are only one half of the battle. Diet plays an |
| not recently been prescribed antibiotics, there | | | | important role in reducing yeast in the system, |
| remain other ways for Candida to take hold in the | | | | especially when it comes to sugary foods. Sugar |
| body. | | | | is among the worst dietary contributors to |
| It is believed that general environmental factors | | | | Candida overgrowth, as yeast can flourish 200 |
| may also be contributory factors. Exposure to | | | | times faster when sugar is available within the |
| toxins in the air a child breaths and the water he | | | | body. |
| drinks, as well as genetic factors - for example, if | | | | So for anti-fungal treatments to be most |
| a child's mother is prone to yeast infections, this | | | | effective it is recommended that your child follow |
| may be passed on to the child - and a diet high in | | | | a restricted diet that eliminated all sugars and any |
| sugar all open up a child to a greater risk of | | | | foods that contain yeast, which include bread |
| Candida overgrowth. | | | | products, cheese, and mushrooms. |
| Researchers now believe that there may be an | | | | The Autism Research Institute (ARI) founder, the |
| link between autism and yeast infections which | | | | late Dr. Bernard Rimland MD believed that in most |
| occurs when the Candida multiplies and changes | | | | cases, Candida is not the singular cause of autism. |
| the workings of the digestive tract, releasing a | | | | However his own research led him to conclude |
| multitude of toxins into the body. The brain and | | | | that a "small but significant" proportion of autistic |
| the rest of the body's systems - such as the | | | | kids - between 5% and 10% - will improve when |
| digestive system - are strongly linked. Therefore, | | | | properly treated for Candida. |
| disturbances within the digestive tract may have | | | | For more information on whether yeast infection |
| a direct impact on the brains functioning leading to | | | | autism treatment is suitable for your child speak |
| a worsening of autism symptoms. | | | | to your physican. |
| A study performed by researchers from the | | | | |