Clinical and demographic characteristics of autistic children in Al-Hilla city

Abstract

Abstract Background: An increase in the number of cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been reported around the world in the recent years, identifying the major risk factors and main associations helps increase our knowledge and planning for future studies. Objective: To identify the major risk factors for ASD and associated medical and psychiatric comorbidities in Al-Hilla city. Materials and Methods: This is a record review study done in five centers for behavioral therapy of autistic children in Al-Hilla city from January 15, 2023, to May 15, 2023, on 204 children with ASD, their ages ranged from 2 to 12 years old, full history and clinical examination was done for all children. Results: Out of 204 children studied, 70.58% were males and 29.4% were females with a male-to-female ratio of 2.4:1. Their ages ranged from 2 to 12 years old, and 62.7% presented between 4 and 6 years of age. About 62.7% presented with speech delay, 17.6% had a family history of similar problems, 19.6% had sleep disturbance, 41.2% had gastrointestinal problems, 13.7% had epilepsy, and 50.9% had hyperactivity. Conclusion: We found a higher male-to-female ratio, delayed presentation to medical attention, most children present with speech delay and most patients had associated medical and psychiatric problems.