Autistic subjects with comorbid epilepsy: A possible association with viral infections

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.