London: A review published in the British Medical Journal on Monday denied the claims that use of paracetamol by pregnant women would lead to autism and ADHD in children, The Guardian reported.
The study did not find any ‘convincing link’ between the common painkiller, also known as acetaminophen or Tylenol, and children getting diagnosed with autism after their mothers used them during pregnancy.
The finding is a blow to the US president Trump’s call that women should tell their doctors about limiting the use of painkiller during pregnancy.
Going further Trump emphatically told them to ‘fight like hell’ not to take painkiller.
Trump’s call has to do with rising rates of autism in the US which scientists linked to rising awareness about the disease and improvement in diagnosis alongside broadening criteria to describe the condition.
Researchers analysed scientific reviews published previously on whether paracetamol raised the likelihood of children getting diagnosed with autism or ADHD after their mothers used painkillers during pregnancy.
The study pointed to family genetics to explain the likelihood of autism rather than causing from painkillers.
The senior author of the review Prof Shakila Thangaratinam, who is a consultant obstetrician, said that ‘Women should know that the existing evidence does not really support a link between paracetamol and autism and ADHD’.
Prof Shakila Thangaratinam added: ‘If pregnant women need to take paracetamol for fever or pain then we would say please do, particularly because high fever in pregnancy could be dangerous to the unborn baby.’
It is reported that researchers have come to the conclusion after examining nine systematic reviews which included 40 observational studies into paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism, ADHD.