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).
(PRWEB) October 29, 2005 -- 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 more than 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 neurotoxicity 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.
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