Paracetamol use in pregnancy 'may increase risk of autism and ADHD in children'

Acetaminophen, an ingredient found in paracetamol, is important in treating maternal fever and pain

Paracetamol is a common painkiller people use to ease sore heads, stomachs, and other ailments that don't require major medical attention. However, it turns out pregnant women may have to think twice about taking it.

This is because when kids are exposed to acetaminophen, known by the brand name paracetamol or US brand Tylenol, during pregnancy, they may be more likely to develop neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) like autism or ADHD, according to a new study.

In the study, published in BMC Environmental Health on August 14, researchers analysed results from 46 previous studies and pulled data from more than 100,000 participants to investigate the potential link between taking paracetamol when expecting and children then going on to be diagnosed with NDDs.

The researchers carried out a rigorous, comprehensive analysis and ended up finding evidence of a link between babies being exposed to acetaminophen while inside their mother's stomachs and a greater likelihood of NDDs.

It is important to note that the study doesn't determine that taking paracetamol will definitely cause autism and/or ADHD.

In the UK, paracetamol is widely considered safe to use while pregnant, and the NHS website states: "Paracetamol is the first choice of painkiller if you're pregnant. It's commonly taken during pregnancy and does not harm your baby."

The researchers acknowledged that while steps should be taken to limit acetaminophen use - in other words, how many times mothers-to-be take paracetamol - the drug is important for treating maternal fever and pain, two things can also harm children.

In a bid to clarify how expectant parents should go about it, the researchers wrote: "We recommend judicious acetaminophen use - lowest effective dose, shortest duration - under medical guidance.

"We also recommend use tailored to individual risk-benefit assessments, rather than a broad limitation."

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a condition where the brain works differently to most people. Children with ADHD may have trouble with things like concentrating and sitting still, says the NHS.

It comes not long after a separate study, published in Nature Mental Health in February this year, found very similarly that foetal exposure to acetaminophen increases the likelihood that a child will develop ADHD.

Previous studies have shown that over 70 per cent of pregnant women use acetaminophen during pregnancy to control pain or reduce fever.

The findings of the University of Washington School of Medicine study suggest that doctors should reconsider prescribing medications with acetaminophen to mothers during pregnancy.

Andrea Baccarelli, dean of the faculty at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and professor of environmental health, was senior author. The study was led by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

The researchers used the Navigation Guide Systematic Review methodology - a gold-standard framework for synthesizing and evaluating environmental health data - to conduct their analysis.