The author of the seminal paper: Could one of the most widely
prescribed antibiotics amoxicillin/clavulanate “AUGMENTIN” be a risk
factor for autism? published in Medical Hypotheses January 2005
(64,312-315) has received thousands of emails, letters and phone calls
from parents of children who experienced regressive autism following one
or more dosages of Augmentin ( amoxicillin/clavulanate).
New York, NY: The author of the seminal paper: Could one of the most
widely prescribed antibiotics amoxicillin/clavulanate “AUGMENTIN” be a
risk factor for autism? published in Medical Hypotheses January 2005
(64,312-315) has received thousands of emails, letters and phone calls
from parents of children who experienced regressive autism following one
or more dosages of Augmentin ( amoxicillin/clavulanate).
Dr. Joan
Fallon reports in an interview conducted recently that since the
publication of her paper she has received over 2300 unsolicited emails,
letters or phone calls from parents whose children they felt had
experienced regressive autism as a result of taking the antibiotic
augmentin ( amoxicillin/clavulanate). “ When the paper was published, I
never dreamt that the level of response would be so great” states Fallon.
“ I thought for sure there was a linkage, and indeed the subject needs to
be further examined, and research needs to be done in this area” according
to Fallon.
In her paper, the author proposed a mechanism whereby
children who received the antibiotic may develop autism as a result of the
urea/ammonia toxicity in the gastrointestinal tract. She further links the
introduction of augmentin in the early 1980’s for the use in children with
otitis media, and the large numbers of children who have autism with
protracted ear infections.
“It is imperative that further research
be undertaken to determine if a subset of children are at risk for
neurotoxiicty due to the use of clavulanic acid in pharmaceutical
preparations” the paper states in it’s conclusion. “Looking into the
potential multifactorial etiologies surrounding autism is an important
next step in discovering a potential cure for autism”, said
Fallon
For further information please contact Ricardo Felto of LFH
Media at e-mail protected from spam bots
Ricardo Felto
LFhealth Media
ricardofelto@xxxxxxxxx
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