TORCH infections linked to higher autism and disability risks

TORCH infections congenital infection autism risk intellectual disability neurodevelopment

A large-scale study from the Karolinska Institutet, published in JAMA Pediatrics, has linked congenital TORCH infections to significantly increased risks of autism and intellectual disabilities. The research analyzed data from 3.7 million people born in Sweden between 1987 and 2021, following participants for up to three decades.

Findings indicate that children born with TORCH infections—a group including syphilis, rubella, toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, and herpesvirus—are approximately three times more likely to receive an autism diagnosis. Furthermore, they face more than seven times the risk of being diagnosed with an intellectual disability. In cases of severe to profound intellectual disability, the risk is up to 30 times higher compared to non-infected children.

The study also noted that children with these infections showed measurably worse school grades during adolescence, even in the absence of a clinical diagnosis. While these congenital infections are relatively rare and account for a small fraction of total autism cases, researchers emphasize that many of these infections are preventable through vaccination and hygiene, making them a critical public health priority.

Entities

Hugo Sjöqvist · JAMA Pediatrics · Karolinska Institutet · Reneé Gardner · Sweden · Swedish Research Council

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] Children with congenital TORCH infections are approximately three times more likely to receive an autism diagnosis. lecodellitorale.it · www.adnkronos.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The study followed 3.7 million births in Sweden between 1987 and 2021. www.it-boltwise.de · lecodellitorale.it · www.adnkronos.com
[● 3 SOURCES] A Swedish cohort study links congenital TORCH infections to increased risks of autism and intellectual disabilities. www.it-boltwise.de · lecodellitorale.it · www.adnkronos.com
[● 3 SOURCES] TORCH infections include Toxoplasma gondii, syphilis, rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex viruses. www.it-boltwise.de · lecodellitorale.it · www.adnkronos.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The risk of intellectual disability is more than seven times higher in children with congenital TORCH infections. lecodellitorale.it · www.adnkronos.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The risk of severe to profound intellectual disability is up to 30 times higher for affected children. lecodellitorale.it · www.adnkronos.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Children with these infections showed measurably worse school grades in adolescence, even without a clinical diagnosis. www.it-boltwise.de · nyheter.ki.se
[● 5 SOURCES] One in five children born with a TORCH infection may develop autism later in life. es.euronews.com · hu.euronews.com · gazetasi.al · it.euronews.com · fr.euronews.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Cytomegalovirus is one of the most frequent congenital infections and can cause hearing loss, visual alterations, and brain lesions. www.elperiodico.digital
[● 13 SOURCES] The risk of severe or very severe intellectual disability was up to 30 times higher for children with these infections compared to non-infected children. hu.euronews.com · gazetasi.al · www.ilsannioquotidiano.it · www.codirp.it · www.ilfattonisseno.it · +8 more
[● 15 SOURCES] The study analyzed 3.7 million people born in Sweden between 1987 and 2021. es.euronews.com · hu.euronews.com · gazetasi.al · www.ilsannioquotidiano.it · www.codirp.it · +10 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] Autism spectrum disorder has a multifactorial origin involving genetic, biological, and environmental factors. www.elperiodico.digital