Travolta's deny their son was autistic

John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston have denied reports that their deceased son Jett was autistic. Autism is not recognized by the Church of Scientology, of which Preston and Travolta are both prominent members.

Based on precepts laid down by science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard and whose Hollywood adherents also includes Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Scientology views mental illness as psychosomatic and says it should be treated through spiritual healing instead of medication.

It denounces psychology and psychiatry as pseudo-sciences and rejects the use of drugs to reject mental conditions.

Autism is often associated with epilepsy, with nearly half of sufferers in the US prescribed with anti-convulsion drugs.

Travolta and Preston instead claimed their son suffered from Kawasaki disease, a rare inflammatory condition that can damage the heart, characterized by high fever, painful rash, and lymph-node swelling.

They believe the illness was caused by contact with carpet-cleaning chemicals as a small child.