A recent study showed that children born to mothers who contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy may be more likely to be diagnosed with autism or developmental delay by the age of three.
The study, published in the “American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,” examined data from more than 18,100 births in Massachusetts between early 2020 and mid-2021, before COVID-19 vaccines were widely available.
Of the 861 pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19, 140, or 16.3%, gave birth to children who were later diagnosed with neurological conditions such as autism, speech delay, or motor delay.
In contrast, only 9.7% of the more than 17,000 pregnancies not associated with COVID-19 infection resulted in a diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders.
The researchers also noted a stronger association between maternal infection in the third trimester and the occurrence of these conditions in male children.
Corona and Autism
The researchers emphasized that despite the increased risk, the likelihood of a child developing autism remains limited.
Dr. Andrea Edlow, co-author of the study from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, told The Washington Post: “Not every pregnant woman who gets COVID-19 should think her child will get autism. In general, the absolute risk is not extremely high.”
Since this study is observational, the results do not definitively prove that COVID-19 directly causes autism. However, this association adds to the growing evidence suggesting that infection during pregnancy can affect fetal brain development.
Health experts point out that this study reinforces the importance of vaccination during pregnancy, especially with declining COVID-19 vaccination rates in subsequent years.
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