CNN, the Associated Press, and other media outlets reported that U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized at a press conference that pregnant women should not take Tylenol for fever relief unless in extreme circumstances, as the medication significantly increases the risk of autism in children.
Is it really the case?
CNN cited opinions from multiple experts, stating that Trump’s advice was irresponsible and caused significant distress among pregnant women. The rapid rise in the incidence rate of childhood autism remains unclear, though it is closely linked to advancements in diagnostic methods. Some studies suggest a “strong association” between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism onset, but the evidence is insufficient, and even the authors are cautious about this conclusion.
In contrast, maternal fever, especially high fever, can interfere with fetal brain development, significantly increasing risks such as congenital heart defects. Fever-reducing medications like ibuprofen and aspirin pose clear and serious risks during pregnancy, whereas Tylenol has decades of evidence supporting its safe use during pregnancy.
The health agencies of the EU and the UK also quickly issued statements after Trump’s remarks, emphasizing that there is no evidence suggesting that pregnant women taking Tylenol can lead to autism in children.
U.S. health officials were left speechless by Trump’s remarks. They only stated that there was a correlation between the two and planned to update drug safety warnings, but Trump went off-script, emphasizing a causal relationship. The recent U.S. government will invest $50 million to strengthen autism research and approve folate for preventing childhood autism. Whether the drug labeling updates are related to these actions is worth considering.