Otizm ve aşılar

Otizm beyin işlevlerinde biyolojik veya organik bozukluğun bulunduğu ömür boyu süren bir yaygın gelişimsel bozukluktur. Üç yaşında sonra kesin tanı konabilen bu hastalığın sıklığının son yıllarda on beş kat arttığı bildirilmektedir. Otizm etiyolojsi tam olarak bilinmemekle beraber genetik, çevresel, nörolojik ve immünolojik faktörlerin rol oynayabileceği ileri sürülmektedir. Son yıllarda bazı çalışmalarda aşırı civa alımının, özellikle de bir çok aşı ve ilacın içerisinde bulunan timerosalin otizme neden olduğu bildirilmektedir. Otizm ile timerosal içeren aşılar arasında ilişki olduğunu gösteren az sayıda araştırma vardır. Aksine yapılan pek çok çalışmada timerosal ile otizm arasında ilişki saptanmamıştır. Tüm dünyada halen aşı ile önlenebilen hastalıklardan ölen ya da sakat kalan çocukların olduğu göz önüne alınırsa, bu konudaki tartışmaların bilimsel verilerin ışığında yapılmasının önemi daha da belirginleşmektedir.

Autism and vaccines

Autism is a diffused developmental disorder that originates from a biological or an organic defect related with brain functions and may continue for a life time. Disease can be easily detected after three years of age and the frequency of autism is estimated to increase 15 folds. However, exact etiology of autism remains unclear; it is suggested that genetic, environmental, neurological and immunological factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Recent studies indicate that mercury intake and thimerosal which is a chemical substance frequently used in many vaccines and drugs can cause autism. There are few recent publications from USA which imply a relationship between autism and vaccines with thimerosal. The studies based on these publications had many methodological defects. On the other hand, in many prospectively well-designed studies from different countries outside of USA no relationship was found between thimerosal and autism. When we consider that there are many children who died or became disabled due to diseases which were preventable by vaccines, then the importance to discuss the matter under the light of scientific data becomes more significant than ever.

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