Autism and Candida

[Rebi]

Hi

Was just watching interview with a Hollywood actress who has a son with autism (Jenny McCarthy I think her name is). She mentioned that children with autism often have high levels of candida in their bodies. My ds (12 with HFA) has suffered with repeated fungal infections (scalp, arms, tongue, face)over the last 7-8 months and I was wondering if anyone knew where to find reliable info on this and if ds's symptoms could be connected to candida.

He has been given antifungal shampoo, creams (with steroids) which have helped but his arms still have bumpy areas and his tongue has flared up again.

I have been looking on the internet and there seems to be medications (Nizoral and Diflucan) that need to be taken long term and can cause their own problems. I would be interested in other forms of treatment above this - diet, supplements, etc. Any experience / info much appreciated.

Maybe this is common knowledge - there does seem to be a lot of info when I googled - don't know how I missed it up to now - maybe because my ds didn't display any symptoms of this before.

Thanks

have you read George and Sam?

it touches on this topic in one of the chapters.

No, I haven't. I'm afraid I haven't heard of George and Sam - is it a book?

yes by charlotte moore IIRC. will check amazon for you.

here

Thank you misdee - will get hold of a copy.

Has anyone got any first hand experience of candida and autism?

Have a look at Treating Autism. They talk quite a bit about Candida. Saccromyces and probiotics can be good to take as well (and won't do any harm).

Would also recommend looking at Derrick MacFabe's work. If you type Autism Canada and his name you'll find a video that sets out his model - he doesn't work on Candida- but on dodgy gut bacteria- worth looking at and probiotic treatment etc would be the same.

Try to limit sugars as well.

Thank you Yurt - will have a look.

Does anyone/everyone think there is a possible connection between Candida and the symptoms my ds is showing - or is it purely coincidental?

Again thanks for your help - plenty of reading to keep me busy over the next while!

I use an anti-candida probiotic from the internet called Threelac. I won't say it has cured my DS's candida/bowel problems but it has definitely helped. Worth a try?

Thank you amam - that definitely looks like something to try. Did you change your ds's diet too?

My ds suffered from constipation in the past - it mentioned on one of the sites that Threelac may cause this - did you have any problems?

Many thanks.

Must admit I did not change his diet no, as couldn't face all the gluten free casein free hell. My DS has loose bowels, and the threelac did "bind" him up a bit yes, so maybe take care on that. On the other hand, I also give him a fish oil capsule in his juice every day, so the two might balance out!

Ancientmiddleagedmum, did the Threelac solidify the poo enough for your DS to notice he was doing it?

AMAM - how did you know that your ds had candida? Do you think my ds's symptoms might indicate it?

Have rang paediatrician to have a chat about all this. She will ring me next week. We had been to gp and he is just giving stronger creams each time - which cannot be good. Not sure if paed will agree to allergy testing and a check to see if candida is present or not.

I give ds Eye-Q drops everyday already. Doesn't seem to effect his toileting at all. He suffered so badly as a baby/toddler with constipation that I would be really nervous to give anything that might enduce it!

Thank you for your help. I am still curious if there is anyone who has used diet to improve candida?

Rebi - your Ds's repeated fungal infections certainly could be candida but I just don't know enough about it. The NHS docs tend to dismiss candida a bit I think, but the reason I thought my DS had it was because he had constant bowel problems and then the Threelac helped to bind him up - therefore I deduced he might have candida (since threelac claims to combat it). The one thing I know is guaranteed to make his bowels looser, and so which might be helpful if your boy gets constipated, is that Innocent smoothie which has mango and passion fruit. I reckon by a process of elimination that passion fruit is the thing that particularly loosens him up - hope that helps. The other thing for constipation are oranges or satsumas - a whole orange a day (if he'll eat it) might help. I do understand why you wouldn't touch Threelac if he has had the constipation though. Good luck!

well we used saccromyces and proiotics to help candida and /or ropey gut bacteria. It helped enormously with the constipation.

Thank you both - really helpful.

Yurt where do you get saccromyces and probiotics? Are they in Yakult type drinks? Sorry for being so uninformed!

AMAM - funnily enough he has an Innocent smoothie every day for lunch (get the fruit in every way possible!) - usually the mango and passion fruit one - hadn't thought that this was helping with constipation - must keep him on it!

Rebi, try papaya or pineapple for a change, as they contain powerful enzymes for breaking down food.

There's loads of different probiotocs. You can get them from health food shops or nutricentre or dennis the chemist (type into google). saccromyces from dennis the chemist and nutricentre I think.