Flu or fever during pregnancy escalates the risks of giving birth to a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a new study.
However, according to the Danish researchers, expecting women should not be too much concerned by the findings as the risk is very slight.
The study comes at a time when one in every 88 American children are diagnosed with autism. Autism is a developmental disorder that leads to significant social, communication and behavioral changes.
For analyzing the link, study lead author Dr. Hjordis Osk Atladottir, of the Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine at University of Aarhus and colleagues interviewed nearly 100,000 mothers who gave birth between 1997 and 2003. All the participants shared details about any kind of infection or medications during pregnancy.
Supporting their theory, researchers found a twofold risk associated with contracting influenza infection in pregnancy and autism. Fever lasting for many days was found increasing the risks by three times.
No risks were found between autism and maternal urinary, respiratory or genital infections.Taking antibiotics during pregnancy was found to have an "almost-dismissible increased risk," Health Day reported.
However, the study couldn't explain the reasons that led to this occurrence and the authors emphasize the need for further studies to re-confirm their findings.
"We made over a hundred statistical tests. The mathematical rule is that around 5 percent of the tests are statistically significant by pure chance. Our few statistically significant findings could thus be the result of coincidence," Atladottir told Health Day. "Thus, we must say that our study is speculative and we have to study this topic further before concluding anything."
Findings of the study have been published online in Pediatrics.
Previous studies have found a link between maternal fever and autism. A study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, early this year found fever during pregnancy increasing the risks of autism or any other developmental delays in children. During an infection, the body releases pro-inflammatory cytokines from white blood cells into the bloodstream. During pregnancy, some of these cytokines become successful in crossing placenta, thus affecting the fetal nervous system.
