New Delhi, 23 September (IANS). US President Donald Trump has stated that analgesic pill taken during pregnancy increases the possibility of paracetamol autistic children. Health experts said on Tuesday that there is no concrete scientific evidence that paracetamol has any connection with autism.
Autism, also called Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a situation that has difficulty in establishing social communication and communication.
At an event at the White House on Monday, Trump called pregnant women acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) – which is the main component of the tilanol – called for “tolerating this situation” instead of taking it.
Dr. Manish Narang, Director-Professor-Professor of the Department of Pediatrics of Delhi-based University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB) Hospital told IANS, “President Trump’s suggestion that there is no concrete scientific evidence of President Trump that the intake of acetaminophen (tilanol) can lead to autism.”
He further said, “The current studies are limited and incompatible; major medical and research organizations warns that such claims may unnecessarily concern parents, while it is advisable to discuss clinically pain-management options with a physician.”
Acetaminophen is the most common over-the-counter medicine taken during pregnancy, and more than 50 percent of pregnant women worldwide use it. Pregnant women use it widely for headache, pain or fever.
Regulators and clinical agencies have described its use in pregnancy as safe.
But Trump said that “it is not right to take tilanol”, as well as he urged pregnant women to “try not to take it out of life”. He further said that it should be used only in “very high fever”.
Trump’s statement has increased the worry of pregnant women, but Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, a pediatrician and former chief scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO), said that paracetamol is a proven safe drug and there is no need to panic about its use.
Speaking to the media, he also cited the lack of “perfect scientific proof” on paracetamol’s relationship with autism.
The American College of Obstitricians and Gynecologists have long described acetaminophen as one of the safest pain reliever during pregnancy.
Dr. Steven Fleshman also shared with the media that often treating fever during pregnancy could have “more adverse effects”.
Dr. Abha Mazumdar, Senior Advisor of Maternity and Gynecology Department in a hospital in the city, said that people should not stop treatment due to fear, “But we have to be conscious about limiting potential losses and risks.”
Mazumdar said, “Very frequent and prolonged use of crocin during pregnancy can increase the potential risk, but without treatment the mother’s fever or pain can also pose a threat to pregnancy and the development of the child. Therefore, it is necessary to treat fever or pain -causing conditions as it can also pose a threat to the child.”
-IANS
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