This study evaluates the comorbidity of epilepsy as a variable supporting a
viral hypothesis in Autism. Data covering a 30-year period (1960-1989), in
cluding general population live births, autistic births, and incidence of v
iral encephalitis and viral meningitis, were collected for Israel. 290 auti
stic births were evaluated. The annual birth pattern of subjects with comor
bid epilepsy fit the seasonality of viral meningitis. These findings suppor
t the role of viral C.N.S. infections in the causality of this disorder.