Autism Treatment – Helicobacter pylori and Autism

Today I would like to cover the topic of Helicobacter Pylori, or what is also called H Pylori, and Autism spectrum disorders. Helicobacter Pylori is a bacteria that has been associated with the development of stomach ulcers. We do know that various gut issues are very common in many children on the Autism spectrum. It is very common to seen children with Autism suffering from bacterial imbalances, they often have yeast overgrowth issues, and many children with Autism have digestive issues in general. So it would appear that children on the Autism spectrum have an increased susceptibility to these forms of infections, especially in the gut. Or it may be more appropriate to say they have an increased susceptibility to the behaviors associated with these infections whether it is the aggression that tends to be seen with clostridia bacteria or the self stimulatory behaviors that are often seen with yeast overgrowth. Each infection can result in its own unique behaviors that are exhibited by the child.

Helicobacter Pylori can be seen in children with Autism and what generally happens is we see stomach aggravation, we see altered acid production in the stomach which then can impact the small intestine by affecting digestive enzyme function. This all results in malabsorption, poor digestion, and similar problems in the gut. An Helicobacter Pylori infection can also lead to issues such as food allergies or food sensitivities. In addition it can cause pain in the stomach, gastritis, reflux, and just general upper intestinal discomfort, especially following meals. Children can begin to avoid eating meat products because they are so hard to digest. This can be common in adults with this issue as well, they lose the desire for meat products. So this could be one indicator that Helicobacter Pylori bacteria is an issue. I want parents to understand that Helicobacter Pylori can be another infection that is impacting their child, their child’s digestive system and the way their child’s food is digested. In my next video I will discuss the testing that can be done to detect an Helicobacter Pylori infection in your child.