Publication Name	World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics
Manuscript ID	117274
Country	Egypt

Category	Pediatrics
Manuscript Type	Systematic Reviews
Article Title	Medical treatment of autism spectrum disorder in children: Current evidence, controversies, and clinical challenges
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Yousif M Elbeltagi, Ahmed Osama Abd Rab El Rasool, Ahmed Mohammed Elkashlan and Mohammed Al-Beltagi
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Chairman, Consultant, Full Professor, MD, PhD, Senior Researcher, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, 1 Hassan Radwan Street, Tanta 31511, Algharbia, Egypt. mohamed.elbeltagi@med.tanta.edu.eg
Key Words	Autism spectrum disorder; Pharmacological; Pediatric; Risperidone; Aripiprazole; Fecal microbiota transplantation; Microbiota-gut-brain axis; Precision medicine; Methylcobalamin; Folinic acid
Core Tip	The core finding of this systematic review is that the medical management of autism spectrum disorder is primarily focused on controlling debilitating comorbid symptoms (e.g., aggression, gastrointestinal distress) rather than improving core social deficits, for which no medication is approved. The field is rapidly transitioning from a broad, empirical treatment approach to one of precision medicine. This shift is driven by evidence that highly targeted interventions, such as microbiota transfer therapy for children with gastrointestinal abnormalities.
Citation	Elbeltagi YM, Abd Rab El Rasool AO, Elkashlan AM, Al-Beltagi M. Medical treatment of autism spectrum disorder in children: Current evidence, controversies, and clinical challenges. World J Clin Pediatr 2026; In press

Received	2025-12-03 01:19
Peer-Review Started	2025-12-03 01:19
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2025-12-12 09:07
Return for Revision	2025-12-12 09:07
Revised	2025-12-13 18:09
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-02-24 02:45
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-02-24 09:33
Articles in Press	2026-02-24 09:33
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	2219-2808 (online)
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