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Previous research has found associations between other infections during pregnancy and increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, including autism. However, it has been unclear if such a link exists for SARS‐CoV‐2. A new study has found that male but not female babies born to women who tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 during pregnancy were more likely to be diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder in their first 12 months. After accounting for race, age, ethnicity, insurance status, hospital type, and preterm status, the investigators found that male babies born to individuals who had an infection during pregnancy were almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder than those born to women not infected. SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy was linked to a 42% higher chance of a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosis.
https://hms.harvard.edu/news/utero-sars-cov-2-exposure-linked-higher-risk-neurodevelopmental-disorders