Signs of cold/flu in autistic children

[fetch, BSN, RN]

I can tell it's been a while since I've been in school, because my research skills have vanished into the wind!

Does anyone know of any studies (or where to search, tips on keywords, etc) for presentation of cold/flu in autistic children? I have a child in my school with repeated bouts of vomit or diarrhea but few other signs or symptoms and I want to make sure I'm looking for the correct s/s. For example, I know in the neurotypical kids, they'll wind down and get exhausted -- but would an autistic child instead get ramped up due to overstimulation from not feeling well? Or would they show the same s/s, and otherwise symptomless vomit/diarrhea bouts would indicate the doctor should look at other GI issues instead?

It's possible there's no research one way or the other on this, but all my google-fu is pulling up are articles about the mom having a cold or flu while pregnant and then the child developing ASD.

[klone, MSN, RN]

The physical signs and symptoms would be the same. The virus doesn't know that the child is autistic. They will still develop runny/stuffy nose, sore throat, cough. My daughter has ASD and illnesses manifest the same in her as they do in anyone else.

Vomiting could be caused by post-nasal drip, but if a child had vomiting/diarrhea, I would suspect a GI illness, rather than a cold.

[fetch, BSN, RN]

Thanks! I could have been clearer I guess, I was really meaning the behavioral reaction to the virus, I look a little silly thinking that they wouldn't have runny nose etc.!

We're having a virus run around causing a lot of vomiting and diarrhea with aches and chills but not a lot of excess mucous and no fever . . . it is noro season after all.

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

It's possible there's no research one way or the other on this, but all my google-fu is pulling up are articles about the mom having a cold or flu while pregnant and then the child developing ASD.

Put down the internet and walk away from this one...

[Rnis, BSN, DNP, APRN, NP]

My own autistic child gets wiped out from illness and is energy depleted.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

I have a friend who is a research librarian and an internet search genius. He offers these searches.

Please try these links:

("common cold" OR "head cold" OR "head colds" OR influenza OR flu) AND (autism OR autistic) AND (children OR child OR adolescents) AND (symptoms OR differences OR effects OR diarrhea OR vomiting OR activity) - Google Scholar

("common cold" OR "head cold" OR "head colds" OR influenza OR flu) AND (autism OR autistic) AND (children OR child OR adolescents) AND (symptoms OR differences OR effects OR diarrhea OR vomiting OR activity) - Google Search

("common cold" OR "head cold" OR "head colds&qu... - Temple Libraries : Summon

[fetch, BSN, RN]

Thanks so much GrnTea!