Autism Cases on the Rise, Reason for Increase Still a Mystery On 3 December 2021, CDC (United States Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) announced the latest statistics estimate on autism prevalence has increased by nearly 22%, when it was 1 in 54 in 2020, to become according to CDC:

صدرت في 3 ديسمبر 2021 أحدث إحصائيات مراكز مكافحة الأمراض والوقاية منها (CDC)ازدياد نسبة التوحد بنحو 22  بالمائة إلى طفل واحد من بين 44 طفلاً في الولايات المتحدة.Autism can affect boys four times more than girls.   

This cross-sectional survey examines the prevalence rate of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 818 children (16-48 months) across all Lebanese regions. Screening was done using the revised form of the Modified-Checklist for Autism in Toddlers. Based on the total score of items failed, children were classified into 3 categories of ASD risk (low, moderate and high). 

Phone calls follow-up interviews and clinical assessments for diagnosis ascertainment were conducted. Given the caregivers' reluctance to participate, the prevalence rate was estimated between 49 and 513 per 10,000 with a male predominance. 

In Lebanon, this cross-sectional study examines the prevalence of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in toddlers in nurseries in Beirut and Mount-Lebanon. The final sample included 998 toddlers (16-48 months) from 177 nurseries. Parents were sent the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) for screening, and a self-administered questionnaire (associated factors). We imputed missing M-CHAT data with successful answers. Since there were no follow-up interviews for the M-CHAT.  

ASD prevalence was 1 in 66 children (comparable to US).  

Ratios were: male/female: 1.05; Beirut/Mount-Lebanon: 1.2.