WHO: Paracetamol Use During Pregnancy Not Linked to Autism

The World Health Organization (WHO) refutes claims by Donald Trump linking paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism. A WHO spokesperson stated that "the data does not suggest" such a connection and emphasized the value of vaccines.

Similarly, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced that available data do not identify a link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism, stressing that there is no new evidence to warrant changes to current EU recommendations. The EMA reiterates that paracetamol can be used during pregnancy at the lowest effective dose, for the shortest possible time, and at the lowest possible frequency.

Donald Trump had suggested restricting paracetamol use in pregnancy, based on controversial associations with the autism spectrum, drawing reactions from experts. A 2024 study in JAMA, examining over 2 million children in Sweden, found no association between paracetamol use during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism.

Experts emphasize that there is no strong evidence to indicate a causal relationship between paracetamol and autism, while paracetamol remains one of the few safe options for pregnant women for pain relief.