Autism in a child with congenital cytomegalovirus infection.
Congenital CMV can travel with early autism, so flag it when hearing or eye problems show too.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Doctors wrote up one baby boy. He had congenital CMV and autism signs before age two.
They tracked his hearing, eyes, and behavior for three years.
What they found
By age five the boy talked a little more, but still showed clear autistic traits.
CMV had hurt his ears and retinas. The team said CMV might have helped trigger the autism.
How this fits with other research
Garofoli et al. (2017) later tested 70 CMV babies. Two of them got ASD, about three in a hundred. That rate is higher than normal and turns the single case into a real risk signal.
Matson et al. (2011) review says autism often rides with birth-related problems. CMV fits that pattern, so the 1983 report is now part of a bigger picture.
Chuang et al. (2025) show autistic preschoolers pile up new illnesses fast. The 1983 boy had medical issues from day one, hinting that early infection can start the cascade.
Why it matters
When you see a toddler with autism plus hearing loss or eye inflammation, ask the pediatrician about CMV testing. Early infection data can guide audiology checks, vision screens, and family teaching. You also give families a why, which helps them understand medical needs that go beyond behavior.
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Add CMV and hearing-loss items to your red-flag checklist for kids under three.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
A case is reported of early infantile autism associated with a congenital cytomegalovirus infection. The diagnosis of autism is based on the child's failure to develop good interpersonal relationships, poor eye contact, delayed and deviant use of language, and her rote and nonthematic use of objects and playthings. Resistance to change and self-stimulatory behavior were also present. Onset was before 2 years of age. Congenital cytomegalovirus infection was suggested by the presence of an antibody response to the virus, culture of the virus from the urine, sensorineural hearing loss, and inflammatory damage to the retina of the eye. Although over time improvement was noted, at last examination at the age of 5 years her behavior is still markedly deviant. This and other reported cases suggest that congenital viral infection may be an important cause of infantile autism. It is hypothesized that an ability of the agent to establish chronic infection may predispose to behavioral aberration.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 1983 · doi:10.1007/BF01531564