Table 4.
ASD main characteristics and symptoms stratified by gender.
| Category | Boys | Girls | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Severity of ASD | |||
| Mild | 25 (67.6) | 8 (53.3) | |
| Moderate | 12 (32.4) | 7 (46.7) | 0.334 |
| 1st year fever-exposure | 8 (21.6) | 6 (40.0) | 0.176 |
| ASD-related symptoms | |||
| Sleep disturbances | 4 (10.8) | 3 (20.0) | 0.379 |
| Eating problems | 19 (51.4) | 9 (60.0) | 0.571 |
| Chewing and swallowing | 3 (8.10) | 2 (13.3) | 0.563 |
| difficulties | |||
| GI problems | 16 (43.2) | 7 (46.7) | 0.822 |
| GI symptoms | |||
| Diarrhea | 5 (20.8) | 0 (0.00) | |
| Constipation | 7 (29.2) | 5 (50.0) | |
| Bloating | 7 (29.2) | 1 (10.0) | |
| Colic | 0 (0.00) | 2 (20.0) | |
| Vomiting | 1 (4.20) | 0 (0.00) | 0.097 |
| Symptoms triggered by food | |||
| Diarrhea | 9 (24.3) | 2 (13.3) | 0.379 |
| Bloating | 15 (40.5) | 4 (26.7) | 0.347 |
| Hyperactivity | 32 (86.5) | 10 (66.7) | 0.100 |
| Dietary characteristics | |||
| Following a diet | 10 (27.0) | 4 (26.7) | 0.979 |
| Breakfast intake | 34 (91.9) | 13 (86.7) | 0.563 |
| Lunch intake | 37 (100) | 15 (100) | – |
| Dinner intake | 34 (91.9) | 14 (93.3) | 0.860 |
| Treatment | |||
| Behavioral therapy | 32 (86.5) | 11 (73.3) | 0.256 |
| Speech therapy | 29 (78.4) | 15 (100) | 0.050 |
| Diet therapy | 9 (24.3) | 2 (13.3) | 0.379 |
| Food selectivity | 27 (73.0) | 11 (73.3) | 0.979 |
| Influence of mood | 28 (75.7) | 13 (86.7) | 0.379 |
| Resistance to new food | 18 (48.6) | 9 (60.0) | 0.458 |
Significant difference at p < 0.05. Chi-square (χ2) test.