ASSOCIATION BETWEEN NEONATAL JAUNDICE AND AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: A SCOPING REVIEW

This scoping review investigated the association between neonatal jaundice and the risk of developing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by mapping the scientific literature published between 2015 and 2025. The findings revealed a heterogeneous landscape: a majority of studies reported a higher prevalence of jaundice in children with ASD, especially in severe or untreated cases, while a subset of studies found no statistically significant link. Although a definitive causal relationship cannot be established, the evidence suggests that neonatal jaundice is a relevant potential risk factor, underscoring the need for more standardized research to clarify this association.