Many people are having some confusion regarding Autism and Asperger’s disease. Other people would usually say that both of these are acceptable and they can be usedinterchangeably with one another. But there are those who would usually disagree that these two terms are synonymous with one another, especially those who are in the medical and health care profession.

The first things to scrutinize are the words “disease” and “syndrome”. When we say “disease” it is usually something that has signs and symptoms. To put it in a more concise manner, “disease” according to Wikipedia, “is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions, associated with specific signs and symptoms.

So what are examples of a disease? One example is Intestinal Malignant Tumor that affects the gastrointestinal system. Its signs and symptoms include intestinal bleeding, weight loss, anorexia, anemia, vomiting and pain. Another example is Pulmonary Tuberculosis, in which the person’s respiratory tract and system are affected. The signs and symptoms of this disease include cough, sputum production, difficulty in breathing, abnormal lung sounds and pain.

Whereas a “syndrome” can be defined as “A set of signs and symptoms that tend to occur together and are clinically indicative of a particular disease state”. Through this definition, it can be deduced that a syndrome is not a disease itself; it is only a condition that predisposes a certain illness or complication.

An example of a syndrome is the Nephrotic Syndrome, which is usually seen or indicative of any faulty renal condition that has damaged glomerular capillary membrane. The set of signs and symptoms for this kind of syndrome include edema, presence of protein in the urine, hypertension, pallor, anorexia, and lethargy.

Another best example is Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS. This condition is indicative of chronic conditions that severely damage the entire body system cause by the Human immunodeficiency Virus or HIV. The signs of AIDS are infections in the pulmonary and gastrointestinal tract, tumors and malignancies, and other neurological and psychological involvement. If a person has AIDS, he is predisposed to acquire diseases that can damage his body systems, and even end his life.

Autism and Asperger’s disease are entirely different from one another. In fact, “Asperger Disease” is not usually a universally accepted term in the medical dictionary, and the appropriate term would usually be “Asperger Syndrome”, because it is a condition that has a set of signs and symptoms that occur together, such as deficiencies in social skills, abnormalities in communication skills, and impairment in flexible thinking.

This condition, when it progresses to a more severe status, is an indication of a more serious state, which is Autism, and it is evidenced by a withdrawal of a person from reality, abnormalities in language development, and a withdrawal to an “inner world.”

It is very helpful to get some clarifications regarding the terms Autism and Asperger’s disease. Knowing the appropriate term to be used will aid the health care provider in giving proper medical help to the patient, and would also facilitate a better understanding among the client and his family.

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Filed under: Asperger Disease • asperger symptoms • autism symptoms

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