Bakterielle Meningitis und Autismus: Kein kausaler Zusammenhang

Bacterial meningitis can cause serious neurological sequelae—hearing loss, cognitive impairment, seizures, motor deficits—but there is no evidence it causes autism spectrum disorder.

ASD is a neurodevelopmental condition with origins in early brain development (prenatal/early postnatal), while meningitis is an acquired infection. The two may co-occur by chance, but meningitis is not an etiological factor for ASD.

Post-meningitis developmental delays should be evaluated and supported, but not labeled as autism without meeting diagnostic criteria.