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Autistic son always sick

5 replies

lnsufficientFuns · 17/11/2021 20:51

I’m really worried about my sons health, he is autistic and has constant skin infections.

Literally something wrong every few weeks - sometimes every week.

Today we have a massive toe blister which came up instantly. It needs to be drained,‘it’s the size of a 5p piece and he’s a very small 8 yo so it’s huge between his toes.

A couple of days ago he had some groin infection and is on antibiotics.

He suffers from regular impetigo, whitlows, fungal infections, athletes foot, small cut which become boils etc

Any cut gets infected

We’re clean people, he is well cared for and showers daily. We eat properly as well, his clothes are washed - and ironed - I’ve never understood the root cause of these problems

At one point on an Online doctors appointment, I asked why this is so frequent and could it be a sign of anything more systemic and they suggested diabetes which can sometimes present as repeated infections. But he has no other sign at all of it.

Because it’s so hard to get doctors appointments now, I tend to clean anything with hydrogen peroxide and dab with iodine enough to prevent things becoming infected.

Because no bugger ever calls me about my e consults, i end up firefighting and just going through a private doctor each time which means that there is no real continuity of care

Could these infections be linked to his autism? Does anybody know? What am I supposed to do? Is it possible to ask for a referral to .... somebody ? We have private insurance coming out of our ears biy I just don’t know where to turn.

OP posts:
charabanctrip · 18/11/2021 00:30

The only thing which I can think of is that being autistic is pretty stressful and prolonged stress can affect the immune system.

Also, autistic people can skip on personal hygiene and not cleanse thoroughly enough in the shower. If I were you, I'd get him some antibacterial soap and a sponge and explain how he should use it. Microwave the sponge for one minute on high to kill the bacteria afterwards.

Use Dettol laundry cleanser in his laundry.

Make sure his fingernails are kept trimmed.

Make sure all his bedding is changed weekly.

Wash bedding and towels on hot.

Make sure he's washing his hands with soap after toilet visits and when arriving home from school.

Get a decent quality multivitamin and mineral supplement for him to take.

Give extra vitamin C and zinc.

My autistic ds develops infections in wounds very easily as well.

lnsufficientFuns · 18/11/2021 07:35

Thanks for your post.

He’s young enough emotionally that he doesn’t mind us helping him in the shower so I know he’s doing everything properly

But I didn’t realise that autistic children have poorer immune system regulation so am going to start him back on probiotics and daily juices

The last time I have him probiotics he started talking to other children - it really helped his anxiety

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charabanctrip · 18/11/2021 11:25

Yes, probiotics are great.

MondayYogurt · 18/11/2021 11:37

I'd escalate to a private dermatologist.

lnsufficientFuns · 18/11/2021 22:09

We had a private appointment tonight and he’s being referred to a paediatrician.

I had no idea until yesterday that autism affects immune response - hopefully this will help somebody else in the same position.

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