JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – There's more evidence linking infections during pregnancy with a child's risk of autism.
A new report that was published in the journal, Molecular Psychiatry, shows the more fevers or infections a woman has during pregnancy, the higher the risk of the child developing autism grows.
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Doctors say there is one time frame where expectant mothers need to be especially careful: the second trimester.
Women who had fevers during that time period were 40 percent more likely to have a child with autism, according to the report. Researchers say this offers new evidence showing a mother's infection can damage a baby's developing brain.
Any virus can affect a baby's brain. Right now, Zika is the most notorious, although doctors say other illnesses can also be a cause for concern.
Researchers offered some promising news though. Women who had a fever during pregnancy, but took acetaminophen to lower their temperatures, were less likely to have a child later diagnosed with autism.
Surveys by the CDC have shown as many as 2 percent of kids in the United States are diagnosed with autism. That's about 1 in every 68 children.
The autism spectrum refers to a broad range of symptoms, from the relatively mild Asperger's syndrome to more serious mental problems and the inability to communicate.