In recent times, many claims have come to light regarding the use of paracetamol during pregnancy. Even leaders like US President Donald Trump have said that taking paracetamol during pregnancy can increase the risk of brain problems like autism in children. However, now a big fact-check has come out regarding this claim. Let us know if it is really dangerous or these claims were just a bunch of misinformation.
Research found no risk
A review published in the medical journal The Lancet clearly states that taking paracetamol during pregnancy does not increase the risk of autism, ADHD or intellectual disability in children. In this study, all the research done so far was reviewed in depth. Researchers say that previous studies linking paracetamol to mental diseases had many shortcomings. These included data errors, information based on inaccurate memory, and the influence of other health factors, making the results unreliable.
According to this new review, familial and genetic factors are more likely to cause autism or neurodevelopmental problems in children. That is, the occurrence of such symptoms across multiple generations in the same family is a more logical explanation than a direct effect of paracetamol. The research gave greater importance to studies that compared two pregnancies of the same mother – one in which paracetamol was taken and one in which it was not. Such studies are better able to separate out factors such as genetics and home environment.
divided into three steps
Researchers examined studies related to paracetamol and pregnancy in three steps. In the first step, 4,147 studies related to paracetamol use by pregnant women were reviewed, of which 4,092 were removed because their results were not directly related to the topic. In the second step, 55 full-text research papers were reviewed in depth. Of these, 12 studies were excluded due to design deficiencies, incomplete data, or being irrelevant to the topic.
In the final step, a systematic review of 43 studies was conducted. Seventeen high-quality studies were selected for detailed statistical analysis, with particular attention to studies comparing siblings to help differentiate genetic and familial influences.
What do experts say?
Professor Asma Khalil, senior author of the study, says that making such claims without concrete evidence can cause unnecessary worry in pregnant women. Existing scientific evidence does not support these claims. Experts reiterated that when paracetamol is taken under doctor’s supervision and according to current medical guidelines, it is considered safe during pregnancy and remains a reliable option for pain or fever.
