No abstract

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased steadily in most high-income countries over the last decade. Estimates of ASD prevalence among 8 year old children in the U.S. have increased from 1.47% in 2010 to 2.3% in 2018, and up to 3.5% among 3 to 17 year old children in 2020. In Israel, estimates have been lower, with the prevalence of ASD in 8 year old children increasing from 0.3% in 2009 to 0.64% in 2018. Here, we examined data from the entire population of Israel (~3 million 1-17-year-old children) and quantified changes in their ASD prevalence between 2017 and 2021. We analyzed consecutive annual reports acquired from the Israeli National Insurance Institute (NII), which monitors all children with ASD in Israel who receive welfare services, and Clalit Health Services (CHS), the largest Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) in Israel that services ~50% of the population. Both data sources revealed a nearly twofold increase in the ASD prevalence of 1 to 17 year old children during this five-year period. Rates differed across age groups with 2 to 3 year old (day-care) children exhibiting a ~4.4 fold increase in prevalence from 0.27% to 1.19% and 4 to 6 year old (pre-school) children exhibiting a ~2.3 fold increase from 0.80% to 1.83%. These results demonstrate that ASD prevalence in Israel is increasing at unprecedented rates and shifting towards diagnosis at earlier ages. These findings highlight the challenge facing health and education service providers in meeting the needs of a rapidly growing ASD population that is being diagnosed at earlier ages.

Abstracts-IPRED 2010using a random sampling technique. The response rate was 80.8% (143 out of 177). Results:The following factors predicted the preparedness level: (1) joint activity of local emergency managers with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders; (2) socio-economic situation in a local community; (3) collective efficacy; and (4) the city's previous war exposure. However, risk perception, population size, ethnic composition of a local community, and financial resources were not significant in the framework of the comprehensive model. A total of 536 casualties were admitted to these centers. Only 18 were evacuated to the local medical centers. The majority were released to their homes after some 40 to 200 minutes of immediate treatment according to a protocol. ConclusionsThe symptoms of the casualties included anxiety (90%), fear (7%), and sleep disturbance (1%). Ninety-two percent were diagnosed as suffering from ASR. The treatment included counseling (80%), ventilation (9%), relaxation (3%), non-verbal intervention (3%), supply of basic needs (1%), medication (1%), and evacuation to hospitals (3%). Conclusions: The ASR and anxiety are the most common injuries seen during a missile bombardment of civil population. The CSTCs are able to provide immediate treatment to most of those casualties and in most of the cases to prevent the need for evacuation to the hospitals. Thus, they enable saving of evacuation resources during air bombardment and reduce the load on hospital emergency rooms.Disaster preparedness should include the establishments of such centers as one of the components of the mental health system response to terrorist and air-attack scenarios. Keywords: acute stress reaction; anxiety; community stress treatment centers; mental health; rocket bombardments Prehosp Disaster Med Treatment of Walking Patients during Chemical Warfare: Presenting the Examination and Treatment Center FarfelAlon, MD; Bar Ariel, MDIsrael A review of a missile strike with chemical weapons (an organic phosphorus) predicts many casualties, most of whom will be ambulatory. A large number of victims suffering from anxiety also is expected. These injuries usually do not require hospitalization for medical treatment, and can be provided with care outside of hospital supervision. However, these patients add to those who are treated unnecessarily with atropine and to those with exacerbation of an existing disease for various reasons. The arrival of ambulatory casualties to hospitals could affect the ability of hospitals to treat casualties with medium to severe injuries. A unique solution was developed to manage these casualties, including: (1) decontamination (to remove possible remnants of chemical warfare material); (2) systemic treatment with antidotes until reaching a state of atropinization; and (3) supervision for several hours. Treatment of anxiety victims involves reassurance and assistance in order for them to cope with the tragic events they experienced. Therapy is based on conversations and physical activity...