'Infantile autism' risk increases in children whose mothers have flu while pregnant, study finds

November 12, 2012

That's what a new Danish study finds, after studying more than 100,000 women. Scientists say activation of a mother's immune system, such as by infection with the flu, could affect a fetus's developing brain.

The researchers note that 99 percent of women who had influenza did not have a child with autism.

Health officials recommend all women get a flu vaccine during pregnancy.

The study is in the journal Pediatrics.

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