Cesarean section delivery and the autism spectrum disorder: Risk and consequences in Bangladesh

Abstract

Long-term health problems such as an elevated rate of developing obesity and asthma; and most importantly the neurodevelopmental problem of the children born by cesarean section delivery is very likely which in turn may lead to autism or attention deficit disorder. The survival and proliferation of the infant gut microbiota in relation to the mode of delivery is noteworthy because of its ultimate impact on the psychological and neurological behavior of the children. Studies so far conducted on the detrimental long-term outcomes linked with the cesarean delivery, a great deal of evidences have been found about the gut bacterial composition acquired by the infants. The early life dysbacteriosis or the imbalance of the resident microflora may hamper the protective immunity accompanied with inflammatory diseases which is also coupled with the neurological malfunction leading to autism spectra. Therefore, the intentional delivery through the C-section needs to be reduced which is unfortunately a very common case in the underdeveloped and developing countries with lack of such technical information among the huge population. Current review focused on the impact of alteration of the infant gut microorganisms (caused by the cesarean delivery) leading to the autism spectrum disorder; and concentrated on the dissemination of such knowledge in the mass community from the public health perspective.