Hospital-Diagnosed Maternal Infections may Increase the Risk of Autism in Children

A recent study shows that hospital-diagnosed maternal bacterial infection during pregnancy may be linked to an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders in children. 

Researchers examined 407 children with autism and 2,075 matched children who did not have the behavioral disorder. The study included infants born between January 1995 and June 1999 who remained members of the Kaiser Permanente health plan for at lest two years following birth. 

"Though infections in pregnant women are fairly common, in this study most were not associated with an increased risk of autism," said Lisa A. Croen, PhD, research scientist with the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research and senior author of the study, according to a press release.  "Only bacterial infections diagnosed in the hospital were associated with an increased risk."

"Infections diagnosed in a hospital setting were more common among mothers of children who developed an ASD compared with mothers of children who did not develop an ASD," Croen added, via the release. 

Women with bacterial infections who were diagnosed during a hospitalization had a 58 percent greater risk of having a child with ASD, according to background information from the study. 

"Infections diagnosed in an inpatient setting may represent more severe infections, and these were associated with increased risk of ASD," said Ousseny Zerbo, PhD, research fellow with the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research and the study's lead author, via the release. 

Though researchers have not determined a definite link between maternal infections and autism risks, Zerbo believes that the neurological development of the fetus can be harmed when immune responses are down. 

"Our findings indicate that although most infections during pregnancy were not associated with autism in the child, there appears to be some increased risk for autism," Zerbo said. "It would be prudent for pregnant women to contact their doctor if they suspect an infection."

More information regarding the study can be found via the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.