Characteristics of Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders Attending a Developmental Clinic in the Western Cape Province; South Africa

ABSTRACT

Background. Little has been published on autism in Africa; and it is not known whether South African children present with the same characteristics and challenges as described internationally.Objectives. To describe the demographics; history; clinical features; co-morbidity and yield of aetiological investigations in children diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD).Methods. This was a retrospective review of medical records of children fulfilling Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; 4th edition; text revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria for a PDD who attended a tertiary developmental clinic at Tygerberg Hospital; Western Cape; South Africa; over a 2-year period (2008 - 2010) Results. Fifty-eight children were included. The median age at diagnosis was 42 months (range 15 - 106 months); and 45 (77.6) were boys. Forty per cent had complex autism (dysmorphism with or without microcephaly); and 12.1were macrocephalic. Most children (72.4 were non-verbal (using fewer than 10 non-echoed words); and 89.0had behavioural problems as reported by caregivers. The diagnostic yield of investigations was low.Conclusion. The profile of children with PDD attending a tertiary hospital developmental clinic in the Western Cape revealed that a high proportion had severe language impairment; behavioural problems and complex autism