What might viral issues look like in my child? It is difficult to establish any precise list of what viral signs would look like - some of the signs listed are considered soft signs while others are considered more valid indicators, but in general most of the broad 'autistic symptoms' can be directly linked to chronic inflammation of the brain and nervous system caused by an underlying long-term infection. It would also depend on who you spoke to which category any of these possible indicators falls into.

Some children might display the following signs:

• Motor problems, including fine motor problems. Sometimes these problems are one-sided (often the right side seems weaker). Some people believe that toe-walking is also a sign.

• Sound sensitivities

• Tactile dysfunction (sensitivity to touch)

• Abnormal pain perception (pain threshold is either too low or too high)

* Seizure activity (Click here to read here on virus induced seizures)

• The child seems to move from improved behaviour to more autistic behaviour for no apparent reason. These cycles of progression then regression might last weeks or months.

• Less autistic behaviours during and immediately following fevers followed by a return to more typical behaviours after this time has passed.

• Chronic viral-like illnesses or no symptoms of ever being sick.

• Negative reaction after MMR vaccination.

• Cold sores/fever blisters/unexplained sores in or around mouth. Warts, plantar warts.

• Continual gut problems in spite of all possible efforts to alleviate them.

• Improvement while on antibiotics--this may be a result of a concomitant bacterial problem.

• Hyperactivity

• OCD, scripting, repeating fairly meaningless actions (tics) or sounds.

• Sensory integration disorder, eye or ear sensitivity

• Hypotonia

• Auditory processing problems - difficulties with receptive and expressive language difficulties

In addition to more well known DAN! autism treatment approach, several practitioners based in the United States now follow protocols based on the view of autism being a Neuroimmune Dysfunction Syndrome (NIDS). NIDS tests and treatments focuse on addressing underlying chronic infection/s and dysfunctional immune system in a child, leading to improvements and sometimes complete recovery of autistic symptoms.

Dr Micheal Goldberg pioneered this approach and most of NIDS protocols - you can view his groundbreaking presentations on chronic infections as underlying causes of autism and treatments to address them here.In his new book 'The Myth of Autism - How a Misunderstood Epidemic Is Destroying Our Children' Dr. Goldberg and his colleagues illustrate why autism is a symptom of a treatable, neurological disease that attacks the brain's immune system. The book is now available to order on Amazon, and is available to borrow from Treating Autism library (Treating Autism members only).