Fever During Pregnancy May Raise Odds for Autism in Offspring

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Indeed, as Anne Dachel noted, recent evidence strongly suggests that autism begins in the womb. For example, a new paper out this week shows that reduced intake of folic acid around the time of conception increases the risk for ASD [Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 May 30. [Epub ahead of print] just as many other factors affecting fetal development are linked to ASD.
Recently-reported research makes it clear that ASD develops long before parents are able to detect it; essentially, the earlier researchers look for evidence of biological changes that lead to the development of ASD, the earlier they find such evidence.
For example: Brain surface features that develop at around 24 to 27 gestational week differ between children with ASD and their typically-developing peers. [Fung G. IMFAR 2012 abstract.] "At 1 month [of age], children with ASD but not control children had persistent neurobehavioral abnormalities and higher incidences of asymmetric visual tracking and arm tone deficits." [Pediatrics. 2010 Sep;126(3):457-67] "From at least 2 months of age, infants with ASD follow a significantly different developmental trajectory in their visual attention to other people, with decline in fixation on others’ eyes and increased fixation on body and object areas." [Klin A. IMFAR 2011 abstract.] "Results suggest that at 6 months infants who will later express marked ASD symptomology exhibit an overall pattern of decreased attention towards face stimuli shown in multiple contexts" [Shic F, et al. IMFAR 2011 abstract.] There is a strikingly high (e.g., p < .0001) prevalence of morphological abnormalities associated with developmental changes early in gestation among patients with ASD without mental retardation, compared with controls. [J Autism Dev Disord. 2011 Jan;41(1):23-31. PLoS One. 2011;6(6):e20246] Chemical exposure early in gestation can cause ASD.

bepatienz of CA 8:16PM June 01, 2012

Lots of women throughout history have had a fever while pregnant. What changed that if you were an expectant mom and had a fever after 1988, the risk for autism went up. And if you had a fever around 1996, boy, it really went up. And if you had a fever and you were pregnant in 2000 and lived in the US and saw your American Academy of Pediatrics pediatrician for well baby 2,4, 6, 9, 12 15 18 month check ups, holy cow batman, that was one potent fever that made your child join the 1% club of ASD; and 2% club for boys.
On the other hand, what happened at all those well-baby check ups? Hmmm, I wonder if there's a correlation?

mikies of CO 12:35AM May 31, 2012

"Another piece to the puzzle"?
...another stab in the dark, another maybe, another might be associated with autism?
Moms who develop a fever while pregnant are twice as likely to have a child with autism? No one knows why that happens. It might be just a coincidence. It's just more of the mystery.
There hasn’t been any real progress since the days when those in the know said autism was because of “refrigerator moms.” We’re still blaming mothers everywhere. Here’s a list of the latest findings on things associated with autism besides having a fever while pregnant:
Moms who take antidepressants while pregnant
Moms who have babies too close together
Moms who smoke while pregnant
Moms who are older
Moms who are obese
Moms who live too close to freeways
Everything about autism is anybody’s guess.
A million kids have been lost to autism while experts and health officials have stood by helplessly. There's nothing a mainstream doctor can tell a new mother so that her healthy infant doesn't also end up on the autism spectrum. Millions and millions of dollars have been wasted on dead end genetic research with no conclusive findings. Millions more have gone into studies like this that tell us nothing.
Anne Dachel, Media editor: Age of Autism

Anne McElroy Dachel of WI 8:37AM May 30, 2012

what an idiotic study!
ok, so I should not get a fever when I am pregnant?
but half of what I read says do not take any meds while pregnant but now I should?
can we get some real autism research done that doesn't involve moms who smoke or moms who are fat supposedly causing their child's autism?

amanda g of AK 11:27PM May 29, 2012