‘Autistic children more prone to infections’

Islamabad: Children with autism Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are more prone to catching infections, and as such, extra care needs to be exercised when caring for them during the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Self-isolation and social distancing can be challenging for people with autism as they largely depend on support.

Autism Specialist at Shifa International Hospital (SIH) Haleema Sadia expressed these views on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day here on Thursday. The theme for this year is ‘The Transition to Adulthood.’

ASD is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behaviour. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is said to be a developmental disorder because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life. Faiza Badar and Kashif Khan, Manager and Assistant General Manager of the Rehabilitation Department of SIH respectively, emphasized the need for early diagnosis and management through therapies which can bring visible improvement in children with said diagnosis. They further highlighted importance of promoting equality and inclusion and playing a role in enabling persons with ASD to exercise their rights and freedom.

According to the Autism Society of Pakistan, there is no reliable data to estimate the occurrence of autism in Pakistan, but there are an estimated 350,000 children suffering from it. These children are not easily identifiable as it is not a physical disease that can easily be diagnosed through tests. But in the USA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined that approximately 1 in 59 children is diagnosed with ASD. “So Pakistan should see this as matter of serious concern as well,” Haleema stated.