LIA Foundation to Hold a New Jersey Conference on Lyme Disease and Autism

Corona, CA (PRWEB) April 3, 2008 -- With autism at epidemic proportions and the new apparent linking of Lyme disease to autism, parents need answers and ways to help their children. The LIA Foundation is holding a conference on April 12 to educate families and physician's on the proper treatment for children with Lyme disease and autism.

Data indicates that 20-30 percent of children with autism are infected with the borrelia bacteria which is in fact the bacteria which causes Lyme disease. With autism numbers increasing to a staggering 1 out of 150 children, this represents over 150,000 children nationwide who could be affected.

It is clear that physicians and parents need to educate themselves on how to help these children. Parents have formed the LIA Foundation with goals focusing on awareness, education and research. The LIA Foundation held its first conference last June, which was considered a great success. However, it is clear that more education work needs to be done.

The foundation is holding its first East Coast conference in Fort Lee, NJ on April 12, 2008. The conference is geared for parents, practitioners and Lyme disease patients. It will be held at the Doubletree Fort Lee/George Washington Bridge, formerly the Hilton. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m. There are still a few spaces available.

Co-Founder Tami Duncan states, "The conference is a fabulous opportunity to bring the most knowledgeable of the Lyme physicians and autism physicians together to educate us on the proper treatments available. Parents want to know how to help their child. Our conference will bring the most cutting-edge, updated information so that parents can do just that, help heal their child."

The conference will consist of a very intensive program which includes nine experts ranging in topics such as, chronic multiple-infections in autism spectrum disorders, nutritional and biomedical approaches to patients with chronic infections and much more.

For those who cannot attend the conference in person, a free online webcast is available by going online to www.zenworksproductions.com . For more information on the LIA Foundation or to pre-register for the conference, please log onto www.liafoundation.org.

About Autism

Autism is a disorder that currently affects 1 out of 150 children. Boys are the majority of those affected. The numbers of autism cases spiked in the mid-late 90's and continues to remain high. The exact cause of autism is still unknown, however, many theories exist. Most children do improve with some sort of bio-medical intervention.

About Lyme disease

Lyme disease is generally caused by a tick bite and can mostly be eradicated with anti-biotics. Chronic Borrelia is a long-term infection that exists can be undiagnosed Lyme disease or transmitted in some other way. Symptoms include, achy joints, confusion, slurring words or word retrieval problems, brain fog, sensitivity to light and sound. Lyme disease in its late stage can be fatal, causing MS like symptoms and debilitating its victims. One of the disorders in which Lyme disease is known to mimic is autism spectrum disorder.

About the LIA Foundation

The foundation was started in September 2006 by parents of children with autism and Lyme disease. The foundation's goals are to provide awareness, education and research on the link between borrelia and autism.

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