The World Health Organization has issued a statement emphasizing that “there is currently no conclusive scientific evidence confirming a possible link between autism and use of acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) during pregnancy.” The organization urged pregnant individuals to consult healthcare professionals before taking any medication, especially during the first trimester.
WHO also reaffirmed that childhood vaccines do not cause autism, citing decades of global research and discrediting earlier studies that indicate otherwise. The statement came shortly after a press conference with President Trump, accompanied by Dr. Oz and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., that caused yet another stir in the medical community. On September 22, Trump repeatedly told pregnant women to “fight like hell not to take” Tylenol and claimed it was “not good,” claiming it causes autism.
In reality, Tylenol has long been considered one of the few safe options for expectant mothers to treat fever and pain. Nonetheless, autism has been a contentious topic in debates around public health for decades, particularly among right-wing conservatives.
The aforementioned WHO statement indicates that nearly 62 million people worldwide (one in 127) have autism spectrum disorder. Many myths have been debunked, awareness and diagnosis have improved in recent years, but the exact causes of autism have not yet been established.
Click on to find out more on the alleged link between Tylenol and autism.