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Local doctors say there is no evidence to link the use of paracetamol during pregnancy to autism, as claimed by US President Donald Trump.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
- Local doctors say there is no evidence to link the use of paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) during pregnancy to autism.
- This follows public claims by US President Donald Trump, who has discouraged expectant mothers from using the painkiller.
- However, local experts have said that refusing to use paracetamol when prescribed, could have severe health impacts.
There is no evidence to show that the use of paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) during pregnancy is linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), doctors have said.
This comes following global reports over claims by US President Donald Trump that the use of Tylenol – a brand of paracetamol – is linked to ASD.
In a circular issued by The White House, titled “FACT: Evidence Suggests Link Between Acetaminophen, Autism”, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said there was “mounting evidence finding a connection between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism” and that the “Trump Administration does not believe popping more pills is always the answer for better health”.
Trump has also publicly urged pregnant women to avoid the painkiller.
Local doctors have said that the claims have “understandably caused concern among pregnant women, their families and health care providers”.
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The South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (Sasog), the Society of Obstetric Medicine South Africa (Soomsa), and the South African Society for Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (SASUOG) have carefully reviewed the available evidence, drawing on large cohort studies, systematic reviews, sibling-controlled analyses and authoritative international assessments.
“In agreement with position statements from several international bodies, we confirm that there is no evidence that taking paracetamol in pregnancy at recommended therapeutic doses causes autism in children,” the organisations said.
The organisations raised a concern around mothers potentially forgoing paracetamol use when advised by their doctors.
“It is equally important to consider the consequences of leaving maternal symptoms untreated. Fever in pregnancy is not benign; it has been associated with miscarriage, congenital malformations including neural tube defects and cardiac defects, preterm delivery and intrauterine fetal demise. Similarly, severe or persistent pain, if not treated, can have a significant impact on maternal mental health, with clear consequences for both mother and fetus,” the organisations said.
“Against this backdrop, paracetamol remains the safest and most effective first-line treatment for pain and fever in pregnancy, as no alternative agent has a superior safety profile. At standard therapeutic doses, paracetamol is not associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy or child health outcomes.”
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Seven South African non-profit organisations and a research centre working in the field of autism issued a joint statement unequivocally rejecting recent claims that using paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism.
Juliet Carter, the national director of Autism South Africa (Autism SA) – one of the seven organisations represented – said that there is no convincing evidence that paracetamol causes autism.
“Medical guidance continues to confirm that paracetamol is the safest pain relief option during pregnancy,” said Carter.
“In addition, there is no evidence that leucovorin (folinic acid) is an effective treatment for autism. Promoting it as such creates false hope and may prevent families from accessing evidence-based interventions.”
This stance mirrors that of global health experts.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that there is currently no conclusive scientific evidence confirming a possible link between autism and the use of acetaminophen while expecting.
Globally, nearly 62 million people (one in 127) have autism spectrum disorder, a diverse group of conditions related to the development of the brain.
The WHO added:
Although awareness and diagnosis have improved in recent years, the exact causes of autism have not been established, and it is understood there are multiple factors that can be involved.
“Extensive research has been undertaken over the past decade, including large-scale studies, looking into links between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism. At this time, no consistent association has been established.”
The WHO added that “a robust, extensive evidence base exists showing childhood vaccines do not cause autism”.
