WHO, EU health agencies dismiss Trump’s claims linking paracetamol to autism

Health authorities in the European Union and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed the safety of paracetamol during pregnancy, countering US President Donald Trump’s recent warnings suggesting a connection between the widely used painkiller and autism.

According to foreign media, the World Health Organisation (WHO) emphasised that current evidence is inconclusive and advised caution in drawing conclusions about the drug’s effects on pregnancy and child development.

On September 22, Trump linked autism to both childhood vaccines and the use of Tylenol by pregnant women, bringing unverified claims into the spotlight of US health discussions.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) stated that no new evidence exists to warrant changes to existing guidance regarding paracetamol use during pregnancy. “The available data have not shown a link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism,” the agency said. The EMA added that paracetamol may be used if necessary, but at the lowest effective dose and frequency.

Trump advised pregnant women to avoid paracetamol except in cases of extremely high fever, commenting: “Taking Tylenol is not good. I’ll say that. It’s not good". This is not the first time the president has raised concerns about the drug’s safety.

Medical experts have repeatedly warned that there is no proven causal relationship between acetaminophen (paracetamol) use during pregnancy and autism. The president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) noted that the circumstances under which expectant mothers use the drug may carry more risk than any theoretical link to autism.

Meanwhile, Tylenol manufacturer Kenvue rejected the claims connecting acetaminophen to autism, citing over a decade of research. The company advised that pregnant women consult a doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications.

By Tamilla Hasanova