Totally get what you are saying.

The other variable is that reportedly he had lifelong seizures. Neither autism nor KD are connected to seizures. Have there been confirmations as to whether he was on medication for the seizures? I am somewhat familiar with the whole scientology angle with meds, but do they use meds for life-threatening conditions?

I think there is a connection between seizures and autism.

A quick search yielded this article: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/ep...ndepilepsy.pdf

From a quick glance, it looks like there is some connection, especially in early childhood.

I don't know. From what I know about Kawasaki Syndrome, it doesn't sound like a seizure disorder, or like anything in the ASD. There's not even a link between that and carpet cleaner!

I thought the same thing....it sounded strange to me!

Its still very tragic!

soon to be MD here:

Kawasaki's probably had nothing to do with his death. Usually kids get it when they are young, around 2, and the great majority survive it and are fine. The problem affects the heart vasculature. I had a patient with it once when I was on pediatrics rotation, and it was this awful rash and he had very high fever. And there might be an antigenic cause (germ) but cleaners as a cause? No.

Now being on the autism spectrum, who knows? But the two (KD and Autism) are not related, or at least there is no evidence that I know of linking the two. From what the reports said he bumped his head and had a seizure, and unfortunately died after that. Which is defintely makes more sense to me. In any case, it is still very sad.

As the future pediatrician, I'll weigh in on the Kawasaki's Disease too. Blackngoldengirl is correct. When I heard about this on the radio this morning I was so confused as to what KD had to with seizures that I assumed the announcer had made a mistake.

Most kids, when treated correctly with IV immunoglobin have zero long term complications. Untreated it leads to heart problems, but that's only in about 20-25% of untreated kids.

It's not a well understood condition, but current thinking leans towards it having an infectious cause...a least in large part to the fact that it usually occurs in mini-outbreaks within a community. But like a lot of things, the actual way in which you get it is likely a genetically susceptible individual who sustains the appropriate insult at the right time.

The main diagnostic features are high, persistent fever for more than 5 days; one-sided lymph node swelling that's typically a singular isolated lymph node; widespread rash; crusting/cracking of the mouth/lips; swelling of hands or feet; and red, irritated eyes.


It's definitely something you don't want to miss as a pediatrician because of the heart problems, but doesn't make sense in light of what happened in this instance.

Okay I admit it...a little chuckle escaped me when I read your post.

But I'm just glad I'm not the only one who thought this...

He had recurrent seizures and had recently been taken off of Depakote. They said it stopped working. I guess it had gone from 1 grand mal per 3 weeks to 1 per week.

It is a sad situation.

Former nannies have said that John, Kelly, and Ella ate the finest organic foods available while letting him do nothing but sit in front of a tv/video game for HOURS eating nothing but junk food. They said because John and Kelly would not admit to him having autism, he had not been given the opportunity to learn communication skills that an autism program would have taught him. And, some not-so-nice things have also been said that Kelly was not a hands-on mom with him at ALL. Whenever he had a meltdown, she yelled at the nanny to "handle it."

I don't believe everything I read, especially when it comes to former employees. But, I do believe that when these things that had been said BEFORE his passing are viewed and considered now, it shows a family in great denial about their son's condition...

Another question - is there a pattern of autistic children also having seizures/being epileptic, or is this just a coincidence?

There is a link between autism and seizures (a link to an article on it is somewhere on this thread).

I just think this whole thing is sad. I thought it sounded odd when they talked about him having a nanny that slept in the same room as him and monitors to let people know when he got up. But if he had autism, it all makes sense.

I feel sorry for this poor child who never got the treatment he needed because of his parents religion.

Religious freedom aside, does this toll the line of neglect? I know they could argue that the baby monitor and nanny are examples of they effectively addressed his condition, but still.

What sucks is there are so many different stages and types of conditions such as autism. Some people are relatively functional and independent at 16, 18, or 24 and others are not.

It is up to the family to do their best to learn what the son needed to be functional.

I think it might be hard to say it was neglect. I would think it would be similar to Jehovah Witnesses not allowing blood transfusions.

If Jett did have autism and Scientology was the reason that the Travoltas ignored his condition, then I do hope they seriously reconsider their "religion."


Are there other conditions that have similar "symptoms" of autism, but that aren't autism? I remember watching a "Mystery Diagnosis" episode about Moya Moya disease, and it dealt with seizures (along with strokes, and speech difficulties).

Not sure about neglect - in Connecticut, the refusal or failure to provide necessary medical care can be grounds for neglect charges. Of course, then you get into the question of what's necessary...

Still though, I'd be a bit disturbed if his death was at all a result of his parents' failure to adequately address the situation.

so sad, my heart felt condolensces to their family.