MMR and Parents with Aspergers

[MTS]

As some of you may have seen on a previously thread, there is a strong suggestion that I have mild Aspergers (I'm not pursuing a definite diagnosis). DS is 6 months, so the MMR decision is looming. Given a probable/possible parental history of Aspergers, should I avoid DS having the MMR and go for single jabs instead?

Bump

I can't shed any light on your double question of possible heredity and the potential effects of MMR combined - though I'd love to hear what the more knowledgeable might say. All I would say is that if you have any concerns at all, and can afford it, why not go for single jabs anyway? It will be one fewer shadow in your mind.

It's what we did for ds, given my concerns about his development in babyhood. He still (at 5) does have some puzzling problems (see other threads ad nauseam), and I now know that had I gone for the triple jab I would always have regretted it.

thanks binkie. Not convinced I can afford the single jabs but guess I will just have to! The DTP from previous threads appears to be more of a culprit anyway, and DS didn't have too much of a reaction to them anyway.

Can't you now demand mercury (thimiserol) free jabs? Is it called infranix? Also, MTS, I understand that age is a big factor: wait til he is 2? Have you tried searching some of Jimjams information on other threads?

DTP has been and gone. I asked for Mercury Free and was told that they weren't available by the HV (sigh). A good idea to look at Jimjams threads. Will do.

Most of the children that I'm aware of with bad reactions to MMR tend to have autoimmunity as a family history rather than autism/AS (and the autism tends to come out of the blue iykwim). However if you can afford it then I would go for the single route. No point in giving yourself extra worries.

Worth waiting until 18 months plus because the mealses component is more likely to work then (doesn't make much difference to the very small likelihood of a reaction). (the dtwP was worth waiting untl 2 + because of the thimerosil but that's not in the MMR).

Thanks jimjams. I recalled the problems with family history of auto-immunity but wasn't sure if that extended to family history of ASD. spose I had better start saving my pennies now for the single jabs!

Gave my DD single measles a couple of weeks ago because she has a brother with autism and there are other family members on the spectrum. While i don't think immunisation was an issue for any of these people, I just didn't want to take any chance with her. The reality is that you will only have to pay for the measles jab for quite some time. They advise at least 6 months, pref a year, before having the next one and then mumps isn't available at the moment anyway.

oh bother, didn't realise that you couldn't get single jab mumps privately. sigh. can see a bit of an argument with DH looming on this issue.

mumps isn't really a problem. It was never part of the vaccination schedule in the UK until the introduction of the MMR (whereas measles was given). Many children who get mumps (and there aren't many of those these dasy) have subclinical infecitons. Even when caught as an adult/teenager the risk of complications from mumps is pretty remote. I suspect the "safety" of catching mumps is the reason the govt is playing silly buggers with it tbh.

true I guess jimjams. just from my vague knowledge of mumps it can cause more problems for a little lad than little girl - but i guess you know more than me, and if the chances of probs are vanishingly rare anyway....

Not a problem pre-puberty and then - even in the rare cases where a testicle is affected - usually only one is affected. TBH you would be able to get a mumps jab by then- you can get them- it just usually involves a long wait- have a search though on health as some mumnetters have got them recently.

I think that the restriction in the import of mumps vaccine has been lifted, our waiting list was reduced from 2 years to 6 m and yet I found another clinic nearer to home with no waiting list. So I think is a bit easier to get it now.