Skip to main content

Medical Comorbidities in Pediatric Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Interprofessional Care Coordination for Pediatric Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have many and varied social, emotional, behavioral, and academic needs. In many cases, these children also have medical needs, adding to the level of care they require. Medical conditions commonly co-occur in children with ASD; some of the most common include epilepsy, gastrointestinal issues, sleep problems, and feeding disorders. The diagnosis and treatment of these conditions is often complicated by their ASD symptoms. The care and collaboration of professionals from multiple disciplines is needed to effectively conceptualize and treat these conditions. This chapter provides a review of common co-occurring medical conditions in children with ASD and highlights the need for interprofessional collaboration .

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 229.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aldinger, K. A., Lane, C. J., Veenstra-VanderWeele, J., & Levitt, P. (2015). Patterns of risk for multiple co-occurring medical conditions replicate across distinct cohorts of children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research, 8, 771–781.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amiet, C., Gourfinkel-An, I., Bouzamondo, A., Tordjman, S., Baulac, M., Lechat, P., … Cohen, D. (2008). Epilepsy in autism is associated with intellectual disability and gender: Evidence from a meta-analysis. Biological Psychiatry, 64, 577–582.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauman, M. L. (2010). Medical comorbidities in autism: Challenges to diagnosis and treatment. Neurotherapeutics: The Journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics, 7, 320–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buie, T., Campbell, D. B., Fuchs, G. J., Furuta, G. T., Levy, J., Van de Water, J., … Winter, H. (2010). Evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in individuals with ASDs: A consensus report. Pediatrics, 125, S1–S18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Call, N., Mevers, J. L., McElhanon, B. O., & Scheithauer, M. C. (2017). A multidisciplinary treatment for encopresis in children with developmental disabilities. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 50, 332–344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chez, M. G., Chang, M., Krasne, V., Coughlan, C., Kominsky, M., & Schwartz, A. (2006). Frequency of epileptiform EEG abnormalities in a sequential screening of autistic patients with no known clinical epilepsy from 1996 to 2005. Epilepsy & Behavior, 8, 267–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornish, E. (1998). A balanced approach towards healthy eating in autism. Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, 11, 501–509.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cortesi, F., Giannotti, F., Ivanenko, A., & Johnson, K. (2010). Sleep in children with autistic spectrum disorder. Sleep Medicine, 11, 659–664.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coury, D. (2010). Medical treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Current Opinion in Neurology, 23, 131–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devnani, P. A., & Hegde, A. U. (2015). Autism and sleep disorders. Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences, 10, 304–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, R. S., Acevedo, C., Arzimanoglou, A., Bogacz, A., Cross, H., Elger, C. E., … Wiebe, S. (2014). A practical clinical definition of epilepsy. Epilepsia, 55, 475–482.

    Google Scholar 

  • Follansbee-Junger, K., Smith, A. W., Guilfoyle, S., & Modi, A. C. (2018). Epilepsy. In S. G. Forman & J. D. Shahidullah (Eds.), Handbook of pediatric behavioral healthcare: An interdisciplinary collaborative approach (pp. 85–98). Switzerland: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Friman, P. C., Hoff, K. E., Schnoes, C., Freeman, K. A., Woods, D. W., & Blum, N. (1999). The bedtime pass. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 153(10), 1027–1029.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furuta, G. T., Williams, K., Kooros, K., Kaul, A., Panzer, R., Coury, D. L., Fuchs, G. (2012). Management of constipation in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics, 130, S98–S105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillberg, C., Billstedt, E., Sundh, V., & Gillberg, I. C. (2010). Mortality in autism: A prospective longitudinal community-based study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40, 352–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gurney, J. G., McPheeters, M. L., & Davis, M. M. (2006). Parental report of health conditions and health care use among children with and without autism. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 160, 825–830.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hara, H. (2007). Autism and epilepsy: A retrospective follow-up study. Brain and Development, 29, 486–490.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holingue, C., Newill, C., Lee, L., Pasricha, P., & Fallin, M. D. (2018). Gastrointestinal symptoms in autism spectrum disorder: A review of the literature on ascertainment and prevalence. Autism Research, 11, 24–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ibrahim, S. H., Voigt, R. G., Katusic, S. K., Weaver, A. L., & Barbaresi, W. J. (2009). Incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms in children with autism: A population-based study. Pediatrics, 124, 680–686.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, K. P., & Malow, B. A. (2008). Sleep in children with autism spectrum disorders. Current Treatment Options in Neurology, 10, 350–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kagan-Kushnir, T., Roberts, S. W., & Snead, O. C. (2005). Screening electroencephalograms in autism spectrum disorders: Evidence-based guideline. Journal of Child Neurology, 20, 197–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohane, I. S., McMurry, A., Weber, G., MacFadden, D., Rappaport, L., Kunkel, L., et al. (2012). The co-morbidity burden of children and young adults with autism spectrum disorders. PLoS ONE, 7, 1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krakowiak, P., Goodlin-Jones, B., Hertz-Picciotto, I., Croen, L. A., & Hansen, R. L. (2008). Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, and typical development: A population-based study. Journal of Sleep Research, 17, 197–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ledford, J. R., & Gast, D. L. (2006). Feeding problems in children with autism spectrum disorders: A review. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 21, 153–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levy, S. E., Giarelli, E., Lee, L., Schieve, L., Kirby, R. S., Cunniff, C., … Rice, C. E. (2010). Autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring developmental, psychiatric, and medical conditions among children in multiple populations of the United States. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 31, 267–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell-Horn, A., & Malow, B. A. (2017). Sleep in autism. Seminars in Neurology, 37, 413–418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazurek, M. O., Dovgan, K., Neumeyer, A. M., & Malow, B. A. (2019). Course and predictors of sleep and co-occurring problems in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49, 2101–2115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McElhanon, B. O., McCracken, C., Karpen, S., & Sharp, W. G. (2014). Gastrointestinal symptoms in autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis. Pediatrics, 133, 872–883.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neuhaus, E., Bernier, R. A., Tham, S. W., & Webb, S. J. (2018). Gastrointestinal and psychiatric symptoms among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9, 515.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niemczyk, J., Wagner, C., & von Gontard, A. (2018). Incontinence in autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 27, 1523–1537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richard, A. E., Scheffer, I. E., & Wilson, S. J. (2017). Features of the broader autism phenotype in people with epilepsy support shared mechanisms between epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 75, 203–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schreck, K. A., Mulick, J. A., & Smith, A. F. (2004). Sleep problems as predictors of intensified symptoms of autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 25, 57–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreck, K. A., Williams, K., & Smith, A. F. (2004). A comparison of eating behaviors between children with and without autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34, 433–438.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz, S. M. (2003). Feeding disorders in children with developmental disabilities. Infants and Young Children, 16, 317–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shahidullah, J. D., Azad, G., Mezher, K. R., McClain, M. B., & McIntyre, L. L. (2018). Linking the medical and educational home to support children with autism spectrum disorder: Practice recommendations. Clinical Pediatrics, 57, 1496–1505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharp, W. G., Berry, R. C., McCracken, C., Nuhu, N. N., Marvel, E., Saulnier, C.A., … Jaquess, D. L. (2013). Feeding problems and nutrient intake in children with autism spectrum disorders: A meta-analysis and comprehensive review of the literature. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43, 2159–2173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spence, S., & Schneider, M. T. (2009). The role of epilepsy and epileptiform EEGs in autism spectrum disorders. Pediatric Research, 65, 599–606.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuchman, R., Alessandri, M., & Cuccaro, M. (2010). Autism spectrum disorders and epilepsy: Moving towards a comprehensive approach to treatment. Brain and Development, 32, 719–730.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuchman, R., & Cuccaro, M. (2011). Epilepsy and autism: Neurodevelopmental perspective. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, 11, 428–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turk, J., Bax, M., Williams, C., Amin, P., Eriksson, M., & Gillberg, C. (2009). Autism spectrum disorder in children with and without epilepsy: Impact on social functioning and communication. Acta Paediatrica, 675–681.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tye, C., Runicles, A. K., Whitehouse, A. J. O., & Alvares, G. A. (2019). Characterizing the interplay between autism spectrum disorder and comorbid medical conditions: An integrative review. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vargason, T., Frye, R. E., McGuinness, D. L., & Hahn, J. (2019). Clustering of co-occurring conditions in autism spectrum disorder during early childhood: A retrospective analysis of medical claims data. Autism Research, 12, 1275–1285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viscidi, E. W., Johnson, A. L., Spence, S. J., Buka, S. L., Morrow, E. M., & Triche, E. W. (2014). The association between epilepsy and autism symptoms and maladaptive behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 18, 996–1006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zucker, N., Copeland, W., Franz, L., Carpenter, K., Keeling, L., Angold, A., Egger, H. (2015). Psychological and psychosocial impairment in preschoolers with selective eating. Pediatrics, 136, e582–e590.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffrey D. Shahidullah .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Austin, A., Shahidullah, J.D. (2020). Medical Comorbidities in Pediatric Autism Spectrum Disorder. In: McClain, M., Shahidullah, J., Mezher, K. (eds) Interprofessional Care Coordination for Pediatric Autism Spectrum Disorder. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46295-6_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics