Jessica Dean's Healthy Living: Risk for Pregnancy and Flu
By: KARK 4 Today
Updated: November 27, 2012
In this new study, the big concern was having a fever for seven days or more while pregnant. Researchers say that produced the greatest risk of having a baby with autism.
Danish researchers analyzed data collected from 97-thousand mothers. They found children whose mothers had the flu or ran a fever lasting more than a week during pregnancy had an increased risk of developing autism. Still doctors caution the new research does not offer a specific cause of the developmental disability. .
Experts also point out the rate of children with autism in this study was two in every hundred...A relatively small rate...These experts do not want women who do get sick while pregnant to be alarmed.
Scientists believe the new research is an important piece of a very large puzzle looking at whether outside factors such as fever caused by inflammation may play a role in causing autism. But at the very least it highlights what pregnant women *can* do to protect their babies..and that's to get a flu shot. That flu shot not only protects the mother, but the child as well for up to six months.
Danish researchers analyzed data collected from 97-thousand mothers. They found children whose mothers had the flu or ran a fever lasting more than a week during pregnancy had an increased risk of developing autism. Still doctors caution the new research does not offer a specific cause of the developmental disability. .
Experts also point out the rate of children with autism in this study was two in every hundred...A relatively small rate...These experts do not want women who do get sick while pregnant to be alarmed.
Scientists believe the new research is an important piece of a very large puzzle looking at whether outside factors such as fever caused by inflammation may play a role in causing autism. But at the very least it highlights what pregnant women *can* do to protect their babies..and that's to get a flu shot. That flu shot not only protects the mother, but the child as well for up to six months.
