Medscape article

[Guest guest]

This was pretty much was I was eluding to on my original post too - when you

don't feel good, you don't feel good!

Jayne

sewshawna@... wrote:

i may be totally off

here but doesn't most anyone have a decrease in activity and any behaviors

with a good fever, i know we usually just sleep. shawna

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[Guest guest]

I think it's pertinent that 's signs of autism did not become very apparent

until after he finished treatment for leukemia. When he had leukemia, and during

the 3.5 years of chemo that made him feel awful, we didn't see the handflapping

etc., and since he was young at diagnosis, we thought the language delay was

just DS. It wasn't until he go some energy back that we started seeing the hand

flapping, object fixation, humming, twitches, etc. I don't think he had any

energy to do all that before then. I would think fever would be much the same.

Beth

Re: Medscape article

It may just be me, but when has a fever above 100, he's usually pretty

sick. When he's pretty sick, he pretty much lies around. So wouldn't that mean

that his autistic behaviors would pretty much be subdued like the rest of him? I

think these Docs have stumbled onto some good 'ol common sense - if you don't

feel good, you're not gonna hand flap or bang your head! Silly Doctors! But hey,

if a mild fever would reduce the symptoms of autism then bring it on! LOL

Margaret, runs a low body temp too.

Just my silly observations...

Jayne

mfroof@... wrote:

Hi Everyone.....I found this interesting. I know that Gareth was less

autistic when sick and on antibiotics. I always thought it was the

antibiotics.....maybe it is the fever. I do know that Gareth's body temp is

low....usually

95 or 96. He has rarely had a fever over 100, though.

Fever May Suppress Some Autistic Behaviors: Study

Reuters Health Information 2007. © 2007 Reuters Ltd.

Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or

similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of

Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content,

or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere

logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of

companies around the world.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Dec 03 - The behaviors of children with autism

spectrum disorders may improve with the onset of fever, according to the

results

of a prospective study published Monday. The study findings support anecdotal

reports and clinical case reports.

Dr. W. Zimmerman from the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore and

colleagues assessed the parent-reported behaviors of 30 autistic children aged

2 to 18 years during and after an episode of fever of at least 38.0 degrees

Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit).

As reported in the December issue of Pediatrics (electronic pages), they

observed fewer aberrant behaviors during fever, as rated on the ABC (Aberrant

Behavior Checklist) domains of irritability, hyperactivity, stereotypy, and

inappropriate speech compared with afebrile matched controls with autism

spectrum disorders.

Twenty-five of 30 children (83%) showed fewer aberrant behaviors during fever

on at least one of the ABC scale domains. However, all improvements were

transient.

To determine whether the documented behavioral changes were related to

general behavioral suppression tied to illness, as opposed to a specific

response

to fever, the data on fever were stratified on variables related to illness

severity.

" The majority of these subgroup comparisons suggested that behavior change

was not a function of illness severity, " Dr. Zimmerman and colleagues report.

The effects of fever on behavior persisted in less sick patients as well as in

those with more severe illness.

They caution, however, that more research is needed " to prove conclusively

fever-specific effects and elucidate their underlying biological mechanisms

(possibly involving immunologic and neurobiological pathways, intracellular

signaling, and synaptic plasticity). "

" Understanding the role of fever, if any, may be informative regarding

causative mechanisms of and treatment opportunities for autism, " Dr. Zimmerman

and

colleagues write.

Pediatrics 2007;120:e1386-e1392.

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products.

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[Guest guest]

Exposure to Viruses During Childhood Linked to Psychosis

Medscape Medical News 2008. © 2008 Medscape

January 14, 2008 — Exposure to the mumps virus and cytomegalovirus during

childhood is associated with later development of schizophrenia and

nonaffective psychosis, according to a study in the January issue of the

American

Journal of Psychiatry.

Swedish researchers found that central nervous system (CNS) infection with

the mumps virus was related to an almost 3-fold increased risk for nonaffective

psychosis, while infection with cytomegalovirus increased the risk for such

psychosis by a factor of more than 16.

" We think that this study supports that the window of vulnerability exists

not only during fetal life but all through childhood, " commented

Dalman, MD, PhD, from the EPI/Karolinska Institutet, in Stockholm, Sweden, who

was lead author for the study. " This means that there are plenty of

opportunities to prevent psychotic illness [and that] you are not predetermined

from

birth to become ill, " she said in an email to Medscape Psychiatry.

One of First Studies of Exposure During Childhood

Although researchers have investigated infections during fetal life as a

potential risk factor for future development of psychosis, this study is 1 of

the few to look at exposure to infections in the CNS during childhood.

Using the Swedish National Inpatient Registry, Dr. Dalman and colleagues

found that 2435 of the 1,187,553 children born in Sweden between 1973 and 1985

were hospitalized for bacterial infections and 6550 were hospitalized for viral

infections before the age of 13 years. They also collected data on

subsequent psychotic illnesses in these patients until December 31, 2002.

Altogether,

2269 of the study subjects were diagnosed with a nonaffective psychosis.

Among these, 23 (including 8 with schizophrenia and 4 with schizoaffective

syndrome) were diagnosed with a CNS infection in childhood.

Their results showed that the risk for nonaffective psychosis was related to

CNS infections by the mumps virus or cytomegalovirus.

Risk for Nonaffective Psychosis with Viral Exposure

Virus

Risk Ratio

95% CI

Mumps virus

2.7

1.2 – 6.1

Cytomegalovirus

16.6

4.3 – 65.1

However, there was no association with bacterial infections. The researchers

looked at various possible confounders and found that adding parental

psychotic illness or living in an urban center to the analysis had no

substantial

influence on the results.

Although according to the authors, it might be expected that infections

earlier in life might be more harmful than those occurring later, the age at the

time of the viral exposure was evenly distributed during childhood and did not

seem to matter substantially.

The most common age at onset of psychosis was between 18 and 26 years. The

mean age of onset of psychosis did not differ between those exposed to viral

infections and those who were not exposed.

Mumps Virus Highly Neurovirulent

While mumps and cytomegalovirus infections were associated with increased

risk for psychosis, the authors stress that since the numbers are small, results

concerning specific infections should be interpreted with caution.

" Nevertheless, it is of interest to note that mumps before vaccination was the

single

most common cause of aseptic meningitis or mild encephalitis, " they wrote.

They also noted that mumps virus can be highly neurovirulent.

According to the authors, the virus probably invades the brain across the

choroids plexus, from which it spreads through the ventricles followed by

invasion of the brain parenchyma. " Certain viruses have the propensity to invade

the brain " and affect it at either the intracellular or intercellular level,

explained Dr. Dalman, adding that, unlike bacteria, viruses need the cells in

the body to survive. " Maybe this invading strategy of the virus affects the

expression of the genetic code, " she speculated.

Interestingly, both viruses implicated by the study for increasing the risk

for psychosis are prone to invade the brain. " Our finding that an elevated

risk is associated with mumps virus and cytomegalovirus infections indicates

that the risk relates to infectious agents with a propensity to invade the

brain

parenchyma rather than to CNS infections in general, " the authors wrote.

Vaccinations To Prevent Psychosis?

The study results raise the question of whether increased vaccinations may

have an impact on rates of psychosis. Dr. Dalman believes inoculations may

present an opportunity to prevent such illnesses.

However, she said, rates of vaccinations seem to be dropping rather than

increasing. The rate of vaccination for mumps, morbilli, and rubella, for

example, has decreased in certain areas of Sweden in recent years, from 95% to

75%,

" due to misleading information about risk for autism associated with the

vaccination, " she said.

But she also noted that exposure to a virus is not enough to cause psychosis.

" There has to be some kind of vulnerability, presumably some genetic

predisposition, " she told Medscape Psychiatry.

Infection Hypothesis " Plausible and Testable "

An editorial in the same issue by Alan S. Brown, MD, from the New York

Psychiatric Institute, noted the growing number of investigations recognizing

that

an infectious hypothesis for schizophrenia is " both biologically plausible

and testable. "

He calls this most recent article " enlightening " and comments that the

researchers capitalized on state-of-the-art national Swedish registries

containing

data on childhood hospitalization for infections and on psychiatric

hospitalizations of people in adulthood.

The authors report no relevant conflict of interest.

Am J Psychiatry 2008;165:59-65 _Abstract_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=\

18056223 & dopt=Abstract) , 7-10.

_Abstract_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=\

18178749 & dopt=Abstract)

____________________________________

**************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

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[Guest guest]

To: @...: mfroof@...: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:54:51

-0500Subject: Medscape article

Exposure to Viruses During Childhood Linked to Psychosis Medscape Medical News

2008. © 2008 Medscape January 14, 2008 — Exposure to the mumps virus and

cytomegalovirus during childhood is associated with later development of

schizophrenia and nonaffective psychosis, according to a study in the January

issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. Swedish researchers found that

central nervous system (CNS) infection with the mumps virus was related to an

almost 3-fold increased risk for nonaffective psychosis, while infection with

cytomegalovirus increased the risk for such psychosis by a factor of more than

16. " We think that this study supports that the window of vulnerability exists

not only during fetal life but all through childhood, " commented

Dalman, MD, PhD, from the EPI/Karolinska Institutet, in Stockholm, Sweden, who

was lead author for the study. " This means that there are plenty of

opportunities to prevent psychotic illness [and that] you are not predetermined

from birth to become ill, " she said in an email to Medscape Psychiatry. One of

First Studies of Exposure During Childhood Although researchers have

investigated infections during fetal life as a potential risk factor for future

development of psychosis, this study is 1 of the few to look at exposure to

infections in the CNS during childhood. Using the Swedish National Inpatient

Registry, Dr. Dalman and colleagues found that 2435 of the 1,187,553 children

born in Sweden between 1973 and 1985 were hospitalized for bacterial infections

and 6550 were hospitalized for viral infections before the age of 13 years. They

also collected data on subsequent psychotic illnesses in these patients until

December 31, 2002. Altogether, 2269 of the study subjects were diagnosed with a

nonaffective psychosis. Among these, 23 (including 8 with schizophrenia and 4

with schizoaffective syndrome) were diagnosed with a CNS infection in childhood.

Their results showed that the risk for nonaffective psychosis was related to CNS

infections by the mumps virus or cytomegalovirus. Risk for Nonaffective

Psychosis with Viral ExposureVirus Risk Ratio 95% CIMumps virus 2.71.2 –

6.1Cytomegalovirus 16.64.3 – 65.1However, there was no association with

bacterial infections. The researchers looked at various possible confounders and

found that adding parental psychotic illness or living in an urban center to the

analysis had no substantial influence on the results. Although according to the

authors, it might be expected that infections earlier in life might be more

harmful than those occurring later, the age at the time of the viral exposure

was evenly distributed during childhood and did not seem to matter

substantially. The most common age at onset of psychosis was between 18 and 26

years. The mean age of onset of psychosis did not differ between those exposed

to viral infections and those who were not exposed. Mumps Virus Highly

Neurovirulent While mumps and cytomegalovirus infections were associated with

increased risk for psychosis, the authors stress that since the numbers are

small, results concerning specific infections should be interpreted with

caution. " Nevertheless, it is of interest to note that mumps before vaccination

was the single most common cause of aseptic meningitis or mild encephalitis, "

they wrote. They also noted that mumps virus can be highly neurovirulent.

According to the authors, the virus probably invades the brain across the

choroids plexus, from which it spreads through the ventricles followed by

invasion of the brain parenchyma. " Certain viruses have the propensity to invade

the brain " and affect it at either the intracellular or intercellular level,

explained Dr. Dalman, adding that, unlike bacteria, viruses need the cells in

the body to survive. " Maybe this invading strategy of the virus affects the

expression of the genetic code, " she speculated. Interestingly, both viruses

implicated by the study for increasing the risk for psychosis are prone to

invade the brain. " Our finding that an elevated risk is associated with mumps

virus and cytomegalovirus infections indicates that the risk relates to

infectious agents with a propensity to invade the brain parenchyma rather than

to CNS infections in general, " the authors wrote. Vaccinations To Prevent

Psychosis? The study results raise the question of whether increased

vaccinations may have an impact on rates of psychosis. Dr. Dalman believes

inoculations may present an opportunity to prevent such illnesses. However, she

said, rates of vaccinations seem to be dropping rather than increasing. The rate

of vaccination for mumps, morbilli, and rubella, for example, has decreased in

certain areas of Sweden in recent years, from 95% to 75%, " due to misleading

information about risk for autism associated with the vaccination, " she said.

But she also noted that exposure to a virus is not enough to cause psychosis.

" There has to be some kind of vulnerability, presumably some genetic

predisposition, " she told Medscape Psychiatry. Infection Hypothesis " Plausible

and Testable " An editorial in the same issue by Alan S. Brown, MD, from the New

York Psychiatric Institute, noted the growing number of investigations

recognizing that an infectious hypothesis for schizophrenia is " both

biologically plausible and testable. " He calls this most recent article

" enlightening " and comments that the researchers capitalized on state-of-the-art

national Swedish registries containing data on childhood hospitalization for

infections and on psychiatric hospitalizations of people in adulthood. The

authors report no relevant conflict of interest. Am J Psychiatry 2008;165:59-65

_Abstract_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=\

18056223 & dopt=Abstract) , 7-10. _Abstract_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=\

18178749 & dopt=Abstract) ____________________________________**************Start

the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

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