Developmental disorders and delays are also a possibility

May 25, 2012 22:01 GMT  ·  By
Expecting women should treat fever as soon as it sets in, in order to reduce their offspring's risks of developing autism
   Expecting women should treat fever as soon as it sets in, in order to reduce their offspring's risks of developing autism

Expecting mothers would do well to take care of their fevers, scientists warn. Left untreated, the condition can have significant ill effects on newborns, ranging from autism to developmental delays.

These conditions can be avoided if pregnant women do not delay seeking medical help for fever. The conclusions belong to a new study conducted by experts at the University of California in Davis (UCD), PsychCentral reports.

“We recommend that pregnant women who develop fever take anti-pyretic (fever-reducing) medications and seek medical attention if their fever persists,” says the lead author of the research, UCD expert Ousseny Zerbo, PhD.

This is the first time that the influence of fever (regardless of source) is taken into account as a factor favoring autism and developmental delays. Details of the study appear in the latest online issue of the esteemed Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.