Trump Claims Paracetamol In Pregnancy Causes Autism
Donald Trump has claimed he has found the “answer” to autism and he thinks it is paracetamol. Speaking from the White House on Monday the US President said the main ingredient in Tylenol (paracetamol in Malta) carries a “very increased risk of autism” if taken during pregnancy.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed it will warn doctors to limit paracetamol use in pregnancy. Trump told reporters women should only take it if “medically necessary” such as for fever “if you can’t tough it out.”
Health experts are not convinced. Most say the science is far from settled. A major Swedish study last year looked at over 2 million children and found no link between paracetamol use and autism ADHD or any other neurodevelopmental disorder.
Still some research has suggested an association. A 2024 review of 46 studies said there was “strong evidence of an association” between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism. But the same study stressed that association does not mean cause.
Doctors also warn against leaving fevers untreated. High fevers during pregnancy are linked to miscarriage birth defects and high blood pressure. That is why paracetamol is widely considered the safest option when needed. Other painkillers such as ibuprofen and aspirin are riskier during pregnancy.
Tylenol’s maker Kenvue strongly rejected Trump’s claims calling the comments “deeply concerning.” The company said paracetamol remains the safest over-the-counter option for pregnant women and warned that “suffering through untreated fevers” can be far more dangerous than taking the drug.
The Autism Science Foundation said it was “shocked” by Trump’s announcement. Its president Alison Singer criticised him for presenting no new studies or data saying the comments were “dangerous” and “took me straight back to when mothers were blamed for autism.”
Trump also used the press conference to question childhood vaccinations. He said newborns should not get a hepatitis B shot until age 12. Experts quickly noted that the vaccine strategy has nearly eliminated the disease in children.
Doctors called the whole announcement irresponsible. In short the science has not changed but the politics certainly has. Share this with anyone who thinks a presidential hunch counts more than decades of research.