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Objectives: To present 46 spontaneous reports of functional improvements in ASD and non-ASD children and adults, according to fever, mode of heating and type of illness or disorder, that we received following publication of our study of fever in ASD. These may guide further studies.
Methods: Reports were tabulated after we evaluated and answered them in order to verify their origins and facts if they were unclear.
Results: Reports included 33 with ASD, 13 non-ASD (37 children, 9 adults). A diagnosis of autistic disorder was verified (12), and PDD/NOS or high functioning autism (12). Most with ASD improved with illness or fever (24 children, 5 adults). Without fever, 4 children had improved language, attention or social interaction either in a steam room, hot bath or sauna, or with pain (fracture). Six non-ASD children included one each with a language disorder, complications of prematurity, sensory integration disorder, bipolar disorder, Tourette syndrome and ADHD. One family reported “improved personality” in 2 neurotypical children. We also received reports of improvements, as well as elimination of positive responses, with ibuprofen therapy. Among 4 non-ASD adults who improved with fever, one each had Lyme disease, cerebral palsy and mental retardation, Alzheimer disease, or strokes secondary to endocarditis.
Conclusions: These unsolicited reports by families expand the range and nature of functional improvements, both during fever and from increasing core temperature in children and adults with ASD as well as non-ASD disorders. The underlying physiological mechanisms are unknown but reports suggest that heating alone may be effective, separate from immune responses, and may result from changes in cell membranes, signaling or synaptic pathways in the CNS.