Prof. Marwan Al-Sharbati, the vice dean of Research and Graduate Studies, and the Chairperson of Social and Behavioral Sciences on Autistic Spectrum Disorder in relation to public health stated that Autism Spectrum Disorders are developmental disorders affecting children at an early age (during the first three years). They appear in a form of weakness in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication and repeated stereotypical behavioral patterns. The diagnostic criteria require clear symptoms before the child reaches three years of age. Mothers often observe the characteristics of autism in the first two years of a child’s life and these characteristics are gradually developing, but some children with this disorder evolve gradually and normally and then start to regress and deteriorate.
Prof. Sharbati discussed the many causes of autism, like genetic as well as various environmental factors such as: exposure to heavy metals (e.g. lead and mercury) and insecticides... etc. The prevalence of autism has increased dramatically in the past few decades around the world, becoming about 1-2 per 100 people, with boys 4 times more affected than girls. That increase of autism prevalence is attributed to many factors, including raising awareness among people, changing the diagnostic criteria of the disorder, and possibly a real increase in the prevalence rate. There is usually a concomitant morbidity of Autism such as; low intelligence, Sleeping Disorder and Attention Deficit - Hyperactivity Disorder, violence towards self and others. Autism is a lifelong disorder, and there is no curative treatment, however, early diagnosis and multidisciplinary intervention (behavioral, cognitive and verbal) cause a significant improvement in the situation, better than leaving the patient without a treatment.
Furthermore, Prof. Sharbati addressed the relationship between Autism and vaccinations in more detail. He stated that in addition to being widespread, the disorder has a negative impact on the quality of life of the patients and their families. This is a public health issue, there are two important points that must be addressed here, the relationship between autism on one hand, and environmental pollution and vaccinations and vaccination on the other hand. As for the former, a very important and the biggest study on the nurses showing the relationship between autism and pollution. The Autism prevalence increased among nurses when there is more exposure to high levels of particulate air pollution during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. The second point regarding Autism and vaccination, 20 epidemiological studies showed no correlation between Autism and exposure to thimerosal and triple vaccine (MMR). These studies have been conducted in many countries using different epidemiological and statistical methods. The large size of populations studied provided a level of statistical strength sufficient to detect rare links. These studies categorically rejected the idea that vaccines cause Autism.
The newly established Faculty of Public Health received the first BSc students this year, and will receive the first MSc students in Environmental and Occupational Health, and Health Policy and Management. One of its most important duties is to raise awareness among citizens and residents on methods to combat environmental pollution and the risk of exposure to contamination, the adoption of healthy life style behaviors, as regular exercise, healthy sleep, balanced nutrition, and stress relief strategies to reduce chronic non-communicable disease, and immunization against infectious diseases.