Corticosteroid Treatment of Behaviour, Language and Motor Regression in Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

An immune system suppressant (corticosteroid) may help some children on the 3 years of age) has been designated childhood disintegration disorder. The term “autism” is usually used to describe disorders included on the autism spectrum.">autism spectrum.

Two 4-year-old children had a rapid onset of childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD). They had a change in personality, loss of speech, and withdrew from people. They also had seizures. The authors treated them with the corticosteroid prednisolone, and their symptoms gradually disappeared over the next 4 years. Prednisolone acts to reduce inflammation and calm down the immune system, and may have other effects. The doctors found no sign of inflammation in their nervous system. The doctors do not know why the medication worked for these children.