Is Maternal Influenza or Fever During Pregnancy Associated with Autism or Developmental Delays? Results from the CHARGE (CHildhood Autism Risks from Genetics and Environment) Study
Open accessAbstract
We analyzed data from case groups of 538 children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and 163 with developmental delays (DD), and from 421 typically developing controls to assess associations with maternal influenza or fever during pregnancy. Exposure information was obtained by telephone interviews, and outcomes were clinically confirmed. Though neither ASD nor DD was associated with influenza, both were associated with maternal fever during pregnancy: OR's (odds ratios) were 2.12 (95 % CI 1.17, 3.84) and 2.50 (95 % CI 1.20, 5.20) respectively. However, the fever-associated ASD risk was attenuated among mothers who reported taking antipyretic medications (OR = 1.30, 95 % CI 0.59, 2.84), but remained elevated for those who did not (OR = 2.55, 95 % CI 1.30, 4.99).
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Maternal fever may correlate with ASD risk, and this risk may be reduced by anti-fever medications.
“Some studies suggest fever as a correlate (Atladottir et al, 2012), with this risk potentially tempered by anti-fever medications, such as Advil, Tylenol, or Nyquil”
From The Role of the Immune System in Autism Spectrum Disorder (2017) · cites this paper as Zerbo et al, 2013
Early prenatal exposure to maternal infection or fever has been associated with autism.
“Early prenatal exposure to maternal infection or fever has been associated with autism [14, 397].”
From Autism spectrum disorder: neuropathology and animal models (2017) · cites this paper as [397]
Maternal infection is a primary environmental risk factor for ASD.
“Maternal infection is a primary environmental risk factor for ASD based on numerous epidemiological, clinical and animal studies (93–98).”
From Emerging Roles for the Gut Microbiome in Autism Spectrum Disorder (2017) · cites this paper as [97]
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References 40 · Cited by 277
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Patterson PH 2011 Maternal infection and immune involvement in autism Trends Molecular Medicine PMC3135697 21482187
- Sparrow SS Balla DA Cicchetti DV 1984 Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales Interview Edition Expanded Form Manual Circle Pines American Guidance Services Inc
- Authors
- Zerbo, O., Iosif, A.-M., Walker, C., Ozonoff, S., Hansen, R. L., & Hertz-Picciotto, I.
- Affiliations
- Kaiser Permanente (US)
- University of California, Davis (US)
- Corresponding author
- Zerbo, Ousseny
- Venue
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Published
- 2012-05-05
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 25-33
- ISSN
- 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3432
- PMC
- PMC3484245
- OpenAlex
- W1978929144
- Cited by
- 277
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 10.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- National Institutes of Health
- University of California, Davis
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (P01-ES-11269, R01ES015359, P01ES011269)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
- Keywords
- maternal influenza, autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, prenatal infection, CHARGE study, autism risk factors
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Autistic Disorder, Developmental Disabilities, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Child, Preschool, Female, Fever, Humans, Influenza, Human, Male, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Risk, Odds Ratio, Young Adult, Antipyretics
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