If a mother has an infection or the flu during pregnancy, can it
raise the risk of autism for her child? A new study out of
Denmark suggests that the answer is "probably not" and "maybe"
and that the issue definitely needs more study. "Overall, we
found little evidence that various types of mild common
infectious diseases or febrile episodes during pregnancy were
associated with ASD/infantile autism (autism spectrum
disorders)," the study authors wrote. But they also say their
data suggest there are three scenarios in which there might be
an increased risk of the child developing autism. If the mother
had the flu, there was "a two-fold increased risk of infantile
autism; if the mom had "prolonged episodes of fever" (lasting a
week or more), the risk goes up threefold; "and use of various
antibiotics during pregnancy were potential risk factors for
ASD/infantile autism." But the study authors also concede that
the results may be skewed by multiple testing, contributing to
the potential for "chance findings." T