The children’s passivity should alarm the parents as it may hide autism-related problems. The obligatory screening for early detecting this disease, which has been used since the start of this year, shows good results, but few parents are informed and know about the efficiency of this test, Ana Ulcul, doctor at the Family Doctors’ Center No. 3 of Chisinau, has told IPN.

The test for detecting autism includes a series of questions that the doctor puts to the child to see how he develops. “We discuss with the parents and the child and see how the child plays, reacts and communicates with those around. When the child reacts with difficulty or is inactive, some of the mothers are glad as they think that they have obedient children, but this is a reason for concern. In such cases, the mothers must ask the doctor for such a test. The screening is very useful. I personally identified a child with autism by such a test,” said Ana Ulcul. According to her, the child’s development chances increase when autism is detected at an early age.

According to the secretary of the Medical Council of the Chisinau City Hall’s Health Division Violeta Balta, the family doctors in Chisinau are trained at refresher courses or seminars staged by different nongovernmental organizations.

Petru Stratulat, senior pediatric specialist at the Ministry of Health, said the tests to identify autism can be done by any family doctor as these doctors are trained in this.

The tests for early detecting autism became obligatory this January. According to the latest statistical data, for 2010, in Moldova there are 108 children suffering from autism, 100 of whom live in the municipality of Chisinau.