A recent study shows that the behaviour of children with autism may improve during a fever, according to researchers of the Autism Society of America quoted by media reports Wednesday.

The behaviour changes include longer concentration span, increased amount of talking and improved eye contact. 

Autism can limit social interactions and disable verbal and non-verbal communication, but fever may restore nerve cell communications in regions of the autistic brain which may help children improve socialisation skills.   

The study based on 30 autistic children between the age of 2 to 18 observed during and after a fever showed that more than 80 percent of the children showed some improvement in behaviour and 30 percent showed significant improvement, researchers said.

The study suggested that behaviour changes may not solely be the byproduct of sickness and, consequently, could be the byproduct of a biologic response to fever.

(Agencies via Xinhua December 14, 2007)