Study: Common Pulmonary Disorder Medication May Contribute To The Development Of Autism

Asthma, a very common pulmonary disorder, and drugs used to treat it may contribute in the development of autism to your child. Experts believe they might have found a connection between anti-asthma medication and increased risk of autism for children born to parents using it during pregnancy.

A recent study conducted by researchers from Drexel University analyzed birth records from 1997 to 2007 and found that children born to parents using ß-2-andrenergic receptor (B2AR) agonist drugs, which are usually used to treat asthma and other pulmonary-related conditions, had more than 30% chance of being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. It was also found that 3.7% of autistic children have parents who used drugs like these, fitpregnancy.com reports.

In a report published in Drexel Now, Craig Newschaffer, Ph.D., who is the co-author of the study, said that the study contributes to a research suggesting that mothers who took medications for common health disorders like asthma, during pregnancy may have certain effects on the newborn's neurodevelopment.

Newschaffer also explained that thetime of completion of the medication play a major role in the development of autism. Those mothers who completed their prescription within 90 days of conception and the during the course of pregnancy were considered to be exposed to the drugs' effect.

The study also showed that children who were exposed to the medication have lesser risk of developing autism if the mother only took it during the pre-conception window, first, second, or third trimester of the pregnancy. However, this cannot be said for those children who were exposed to the drug all throughout the pregnancy.

Another thing the researchers found out was how the occurrence of asthma during pregnancy may lead to poor birth outcomes. leading to the conclusion that there is a possibility that avoiding the use of ß-2-andrenergic receptor (B2AR) agonist drugs may be useless. Experts are an in depth study to figure out if the asthma itself can contribute to a child becoming autistic.

There isn't really a clear and definite way to confirm if the drug or the asthma itself is what's contributing to the child's possible autism diagnosis. However, if you are ready to conceive and is asthmatic, the best way is to sit down with your doctor and talk about possible ways to manage your asthma without having to worry about your baby.

Video Credit: youtube.com/mothertobabyotis