Fever can briefly unlock autistic brain

Over the past few decades, parents and clinicians have observed that the behaviours of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) tend to improve, sometimes rather dramatically, during a fever. Longer concentration spans, increased language production, improved eye contact and better overall relations with adults and peers have all been reported. In a study, researchers from the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland confirmed, for the first time, parent and clinician reports that the behaviour of children with ASD improves with fever. The study evaluated children with ASD during and after an episode of fever and found that fewer autistic-like behaviours were recorded for children with fever compared to controls. Understanding how fever affects the behaviours of children with ASD may provide insight into the causes of the disorder and potential treatment opportunities.