NEW YORK: A new research made in the United States has caused a wide-ranging worry about how COVID-19 might have affected the neurodevelopment of the kids whose moms got the virus while they were expecting. The research indicates that such children may have a higher likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental problems.
The research that was spearheaded by professionals from Massachusetts General Hospital went through the medical histories of 18,336 kids who were born between March 2020 and May 2021 in the Mass General Brigham Health System. Scientists looked at the results of mothers’ COVID-19 tests and children’s brain development records up to the age of three and compared.
Key Findings of the Study
The examination of the data found that the offspring of the women carrying viral infection during pregnancy were 16.3% more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or encounter neurological development problems such as lacking in communication and motor skills. In the case of children born to uninfected mothers, the corresponding figure was 9.7%.
The probability of autism in children to mothers with COVID-19 during pregnancy was still 1.3 times higher after the entire mother’s age, social status, and smoking habits of family members were taken into account as other variables. As a result, the difference in this risk was almost 2.5% between children of infected and those of healthy mothers.
Increased Risk for Boys and Late-Term Pregnancy
Additionally, the research suggested that the danger sign was particularly visible among male children; also, the impact might be more significant if the infection occurred in the last trimester of pregnancy. Doctors explained that the brain development of a fetus is a very delicate process in the final three months of pregnancy, and if the mother experiences an inflammatory reaction during this period then the baby’s brain development can be seriously affected.
Growing Concern Over Autism Cases
The evidence from this research is in line with the figures that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which, as per their reports, have been witnessing an upward trend in the cases of autism in children. The CDC stated that in 2022, 1 out of every 31 children in America was diagnosed with autism before turning 8 years old, which is a very substantial increase compared to the past.
Several experts have a different point of view regarding the causes of the increased number of autism cases, which might not necessarily be attributed to any disease or pandemic. They would rather point out that it is due to enhancements in screening and diagnostic procedures that have made it possible to identify more cases.
Implications for Public Health
It reveals a worrying facet to the pandemic of COVID-19 that the infection of a pregnant woman can have a prolonged impact on the neurodevelopment of her offspring. The findings point to a need for sustained research into how COVID-19 can affect the unborn child, as well as the necessity of the first signs of, and making, interventions in cases of developmental disorders, matches like autism.
