Fever Treatment for Autism

Children with autism now have other options for treatment. A fever holds the key to treatment for those who suffer from autism.

Those who suffer from an autism disorder have limited social interactions, lack of verbal and non-verbal communication, and other limited abilities. As many as 1.5 million Americans have autism. Currently, there is no classic medical treatment for those with autism, but speech and language therapy, started after the initial diagnosis, shows great results. One anecdote for treating autism is by inducing a fever, a treatment used for years from those suffering from autism, and many other disorders, but a recent study has proven the sketch.

Bringing on a fever restores nerve cell communications in regions of the autistic brain, allowing a child to interact and socialize better during the fever, according to new research on autism.

A study, published in the journal Pediatrics, included 30 children with autism from age 2 to 18 who were giving treatment of a fever of at least 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Over 80 percent treated with a fever showed some improvements in behavior, while 30 percent had dramatic improvements, the researchers said. The change included longer concentration spans, more talking, improved eye contact, improved communications skills, and better relations with adults and other children.

Dr. Andrew Zimmerman, a pediatric neurologist at Baltimore's Kennedy Krieger Institute, one of the authors from the study said, "The results of this study are important because they show us that the autistic brain is plastic, or capable of altering current connections and forming new ones in response to different experiences or conditions."

There are prospective treatments for autism, but they are only anecdotal. Some of those treatments for autism include special nutrients or diets like Vitamins C and B6, fatty acids like omega-3s, and eliminating dairy and wheat products. Some alternative medicine health clinics offer fever therapy, inducing fever to treat disorders like viruses and autism. However, until now, fever treatment has not proven to be effective for the treatment of autism.

Doctoral student Tracy Kettering of Ohio State University said, "We're not saying that all of these treatments don't work or that they are all dangerous, but the research hasn't been done to suggest that most of them are effective or even safe."

The report from the Ohio State University says that the first proven treatment for autism patients is from Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI). It is a lengthy and time-consuming approach where children with autism imitate their teachers. This improves communication and social skills, and is very effective. EIBI is one-on-one treatments with the child, lasting 40 hours a week for several years.

Children with autism improve with the treatment of fever, and teacher therapy. Are they the only children that shouldn't stay home from school with a fever?