The Pediatrics Department and Physiology Department at the College of Medicine, University of Basrah, under the patronage of the Honorable President of the University and the Honorable Dean of the College of Medicine, and in cooperation with the Abbott Nutrition Company, held a scientific symposium on Friday, 19/11/2021, entitled “Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children”.

The symposium discussed the latest developments in diagnosing autism spectrum disorder based on the fifth edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders and educating pediatricians on the correct and early diagnosis of autism.The symposium also dealt with changes in the electroencephalography of autistic children and the extent of reliance on it in diagnosing cases.The symposium also reviewed the importance of immunity and nutrition in the early life of a child. The symposium recommended the necessity of adopting modern diagnostic criteria that depend on the DSM-5 to diagnose cases of autism in children. The lecturers and professors also stressed the necessity of Arabizing the above diagnostic criteria to facilitate their adoption by pediatricians and the need for optimal use of diagnostic tools such as electroencephalography and magnetic resonance examination during Assessment and diagnosis of autism in children.