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Flu, fever during pregnancy may raise child’s risk for autism
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Women who have influenza or fever during pregnancy may be more likely to have a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, study findings published this week suggest, but the researchers said their findings merit further research.
Hjördis Ósk Atladóttir, MD, PhD, of the department of public health at the University of Aarhus in Denmark, and colleagues surveyed women enrolled in the Danish National Birth Cohort, which includes data on 101,033 pregnant women between 1997 and 2003.
Women were surveyed at 17 and 32 weeks gestation, and 6 months after birth. A total of 976 autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses were retrieved from the study cohort, using information from the Danish Psychiatric Central Register.
The researchers noted a twofold higher risk for ASD diagnosis among women who reported influenza during pregnancy and a threefold higher risk for ASD diagnosis among women who had fever. The researchers did not find a similar correlation in women who reported other illnesses, such as respiratory tract infections or urinary tract infections.
Atladóttir and colleagues also noted a slightly increased risk for ASD diagnosis when antibiotic use was reported.
The researchers said their study had limitations, including that the information was largely self-reported, and there was possible bias at study enrollment.
“Results may be due to multiple testing; the few positive findings are potential chance findings,” they said.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Perspective
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Paul H. Lipkin, MD
Prior studies have produced compelling data suggesting possible infectious or immunologic etiologies for some children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This large Danish cohort offers weak evidence suggesting influenza or prolonged fever as possible causes for ASD in some children, with no other infection implicated.
The study is burdened by statistical and methodological issues, preventing any firm conclusion on this ongoing question. It is also important to note that such etiologies, even if such a link was established, would likely only pertain to a small subset of children with ASD, with genetic and chromosomal causes remaining the most common.
Additional concern with this study — as we enter influenza season — is that it will unnecessarily scare the pregnant public!
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