A girl with normal milestones spend her time seeing her own hand, do not interact with others, what is the diagnosis?: (A) ADHD, (B) Autism, (C) Asperger's syndrome, (D) Rett's disorder
Answer is D. Autism is diagnosed four times more often in boys than in girls. Ref: Synopsis of Psychiatry, 11e, pg 1153. Rett's syndrome is a progressive conditionthat has onset some months of normal development. During the first 5 months after, infants have age appropriate motor skills, normal head circumference and normal growth. social interaction shows expected reciprocal quality. At 6 months to 2 years of age, the child develops progressive encephalopathy. the signs often includes loss of purposeful hand movements, which are replaced by sterotypic motions, such as hand wringing etc. Ref: Synopsis of Psychiatry, 11e, pg 1166.