Autism spectrum disorders are a major cause of communication problems and deficits in social interaction in children, with a rising prevalence worldwide. A recent  study from Lebanon revealed that 1 out of 67 children in Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon areas suffer from autism (Boustany, et al. unpublished), a prevalence that is higher than that reported in the literature. Different risk factors for this disorder have been reported including several genetic and environmental factors. It has been observed that the increase in autism prevalence parallels a decline in breastfeeding rates, with few studies suggesting a protective role for breastfeeding. The association between autism and breastfeeding has been reported in 3 observational studies and 1 recent case-control study. Hence, further evidence is needed to investigate the association; especially that exclusive breastfeeding practice is low in Lebanon ranging between 2% and 10.1% in 6 month old infants. Moreover, about half of autistic cases in Lebanon are referred to the Special Kids Clinic at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. Hence, it would be scientifically reasonable and logistically feasible to explore whether an association exists between autism and breastfeeding in the cohort of children with autism presenting to the Special Kids Clinic, using a case-control design. 

1.      Cases: Children between 18 months and 3 years of age, who are newly diagnosed (within the past 12 months) with ASD according to DSM-V criteria, and who are patients of the Special Kids Clinic at AUBMC. Ex-prematures, those with family history of unipolar/bipolar psychiatric disorders or schizophrenia will be included.

2.      Controls: Healthy children between 18 months and 3 years of age presenting during the same period to the General Pediatrics Specialty Clinics at AUBMC.