--- title: "Psych News Alert: Study Finds Flu During Pregnancy May Increase ASD Risk" description: A Danish study published online in Pediatrics this week reported a possible link between mothers who have the flu and a high fever during ... image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_106137044%20(1)-Jun-24-2025-03-54-55-2514-PM.jpg --- 6/24/24 11:16 AM # Study Finds Flu During Pregnancy May Increase ASD Risk ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/11/study-finds-flu-during-pregnancy-may.html) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/11/study-finds-flu-during-pregnancy-may.html) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/11/study-finds-flu-during-pregnancy-may.html) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/11/study-finds-flu-during-pregnancy-may.html) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/11/study-finds-flu-during-pregnancy-may.html) | [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_106137044%20(1)-Jun-24-2025-03-54-54-3915-PM.jpg?width=200&height=159&name=shutterstock_106137044%20(1)-Jun-24-2025-03-54-54-3915-PM.jpg)](https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_106137044%20(1)-Jun-24-2025-03-54-54-3915-PM.jpg) | | | --- | --- | A Danish study published online in *Pediatrics* this week reported a possible link between mothers who have the flu and a high fever during pregnancy and increased risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in their offspring. Their findings were based on records of the births of 97,000 Danish children between 8 and 14 years of age. Only 1 percent of the children were diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, despite the increased risk. Those results brought heightened anticipation of the results of the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED), a multiyear study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). SEED is being conducted in diverse communities across the country, with sites in California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania. It is believed to be the largest study in the United States to help identify factors that may put children at risk for ASDs and other developmental disabilities. As of July, more than 3,500 families were enrolled in the SEED study. A description of SEED's methodology was published in the October [*Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders*](http://their%20findings%20were%20based%20on%20the%20births%20of%2097,000%20danish%20children%20between%208%20and%2014%20years%20of%20age.%20only%201%20percent%20of%20the%20children%20were%20diagnosed%20with%20an%20autism%20spectrum%20disorder,%20despite%20the%20increased%20risk./). Another recent study suggested a link between a mother's metabolic health during pregnancy and the risk of an ASD in their child. For more information, see *Psychiatric News* [here](http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=1130407). See also *[Autism and Other Developmental Disorders](http://www.appi.org/SearchCenter/Pages/SearchDetail.aspx?ItemId=62425)*, a new book from American Psychiatric Publishing. (Image: Andrii Kondiuk/Shutterstock.com) [Study to Explore Early Development](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/study-to-explore-early-development), [autism spectrum disorder](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/autism-spectrum-disorder), [causes of autism](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/causes-of-autism), [SEED](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/seed), [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention), [CDC](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/cdc) ## Related posts [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_137421494-Jun-24-2025-04-26-28-1616-PM.jpg?height=200&name=shutterstock_137421494-Jun-24-2025-04-26-28-1616-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/05/cdc-reports-data-on-confusion-memory.html) [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention), [CDC](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/cdc), [older adults](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/older-adults) ## [CDC Reports Data on Confusion, Memory Loss, Functional Difficulties in Older Americans](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/05/cdc-reports-data-on-confusion-memory.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 5/10/13 12:00 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/05/cdc-reports-data-on-confusion-memory.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/sleepy%20lady_59132401-Jun-24-2025-05-35-16-5842-PM.jpg?height=200&name=sleepy%20lady_59132401-Jun-24-2025-05-35-16-5842-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/06/sleep-deprivation-can-heighten-anxiety.html) [anxiety](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/anxiety), [sleep disorders](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/sleep-disorders) ## [Sleep Deprivation Can Heighten Anxiety](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/06/sleep-deprivation-can-heighten-anxiety.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 6/22/12 12:00 AM Sleep deprivation may amplify anxiety, a study reported June 10 at the annual meeting of the... [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/06/sleep-deprivation-can-heighten-anxiety.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/KidsTalking_51235465-Jun-24-2025-03-36-59-3752-PM.jpg?height=200&name=KidsTalking_51235465-Jun-24-2025-03-36-59-3752-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/04/six-paths-found-for-autistic-kids.html) [psychiatry](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychiatry), [development](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/development), [autism](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/autism), [socioeconomic status](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/socioeconomic-status) ## [Six Paths Found for Autistic Kids' Development](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/04/six-paths-found-for-autistic-kids.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 6/24/24 11:16 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/04/six-paths-found-for-autistic-kids.html) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Psychiatric News Alert", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert" }, "dateModified" : "2025-06-24T15:55:55.483Z", "datePublished" : "2024-06-24T15:16:15.000Z", "headline" : "Psych News Alert: Study Finds Flu During Pregnancy May Increase ASD Risk", "image" : [ "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_106137044%20(1)-Jun-24-2025-03-54-55-2514-PM.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/11/study-finds-flu-during-pregnancy-may.html", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/PN-Blue-Box.jpg" } } } ```