Autism and Childhood Vaccines
Autism is one of five disorders falling under the
umbrella of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD).
The disorders are considered neurological and are
characterized by severe and pervasive impairment of
the many areas of development.
The disorders are known as Autistic Disorder,
Asperger's Syndrome, Rhett Syndrome, Childhood
Disintegrative Disorder (CDD) and Pervasive
Development Disorder of Childhood. Parents are usually
the first to recognize symptoms that include but are
not limited to:
silence
being withdrawn
self-abuse
indifference to social overtures
According to the Autism Society of America, autism
occurs in one out of every 250 births. The society
also calls autism the fastest-growing developmental
disability. However, these statistics are in dispute.
There is a debate heating up as to what causes autism
in children. St. Joseph's Children's Hospital's Dr.
Eric Tridas said, "The medical reason for autism is
that the brain does not work the way that it should."
Pediatrician Dr. David Berger has a different
viewpoint. He said, " I am of the belief until proven
otherwise that children with neurodevelopmental
disorders such as autism are toxic with mercury and
heavy metals."
Berger said he believes that in some children the
mercury toxicity comes from childhood vaccines that
contain Thimerosal.
Sydney undergoes Chelation Therapy to treat her
autism.
Thimerosal is a preservative containing approximately
50 percent mercury. Sydney Swenson, 10, is one of his
patients he believes developed autism as a result of
childhood vaccines.
To treat her condition, Berger uses Chelation Therapy.
The therapy uses chelating agents, a series of
different medicines, to excrete metals from the body
through urine. Approved uses of chelation therapy
include to treat Sickle Cell Anemia and lead
poisoning.
Berger said he's seen dramatic improvements in
autistic children who take advantage of chelation
therapy. In Sydney's case, Berger says he saw the
largest excretion ever of mercury and lead.
The Swensons say the chelation treatment has produced
amazing results.
"I can see things like her being able to relate to a
video, instead of doing a four-step process, she's
doing an eight-step process," said Sydney's mother,
Kathy Swenson. "She's clapping her hands, stomping her
feet, saying hooray. She never did that before."
Another family, the Abelas, take a different approach.
They say their autistic daughter Emma was born with
the disease. Emma's pediatrician agrees.
Emma's parents don't believe vaccines caused her
autism.
"We do not have any scientific evidence to date
suggesting there is a connection between the vaccines
and the development of autism," said Tridas.
The Abelas have elected not to try chelation therapy.
Instead, they use physical, emotional, and educational
therapy to treat Emma.