Environmental Risk Factors Associated with Children Autism Spectrum Disorders in, Menoufia Governorate

Background: Although no official statistics are available, some medical studies suggest that there are over 800,000 children with autism in Egypt. While, there is no cure for autism spectrum disorder, intensive, early treatment can make a big difference in the lives of many children.
Objective: To explore environmental risk factors for autism spectrum disorders by using participants identified through broad ascertainment and reliable classification in Shebin El Kom city.
Subjects and Methods: Our study was conducted at Psychiatric and Neurology Clinic, Pediatric Department, Menoufia University Hospital and centers for children with special needs in Shebin El Kom City.  A case control study enrolled 80 children, 40 of them diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders by DSM-V-TR criteria with no another medical disease and another 40 apparently healthy children, from their brothers as a control group. All children attended to Psychiatric and Neurology Clinic, Pediatric Department, Menoufia University Hospital in Shebin El Kom City, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt during the period from April 2017 to January 2019.
Results: There were significant differences between cases and control groups regarding gender, history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, folic–iron, fever, bleeding, induced labor and precipitous labor, dental fillings, silver/mercury fillings in pregnancy and taking antibiotics during pregnancy or breast fed, born healthy > 4.5 kg, neonatal unit, breast fed, Jaundice, delayed sitting, delayed crawling, delayed walking and delayed speaking.
Conclusions: From the current study, it was concluded that boys, high and moderate socioeconomic states and positive family history represented conditions associated with an increased risk for autism and ASDs in Egyptian population.