Can paracetamol use during pregnancy cause autism in the baby?
🌼 Consensus
No conclusive evidence proves paracetamol in pregnancy causes autism.
WHO, EMA, and SMFM keep current recommendations unchanged.
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🧬 Possible association
Some studies show higher autism/ADHD rates with prenatal paracetamol.
Proposed mechanisms: oxidative stress, hormone disruption, epigenetic changes.
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⚠️ Limitations
Studies are observational, not causal.
Fever/illness itself may affect brain development.
Results are inconsistent, sometimes disappear with sibling controls.
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🩺 Recommendations
Still the first-line pain/fever drug in pregnancy.
Use lowest effective dose, shortest time.
FDA notes “possible association” but advises against blanket avoidance.
🌼 Consensus
No conclusive evidence proves paracetamol in pregnancy causes autism.
WHO, EMA, and SMFM keep current recommendations unchanged.
---
🧬 Possible association
Some studies show higher autism/ADHD rates with prenatal paracetamol.
Proposed mechanisms: oxidative stress, hormone disruption, epigenetic changes.
---
⚠️ Limitations
Studies are observational, not causal.
Fever/illness itself may affect brain development.
Results are inconsistent, sometimes disappear with sibling controls.
---
🩺 Recommendations
Still the first-line pain/fever drug in pregnancy.
Use lowest effective dose, shortest time.
FDA notes “possible association” but advises against blanket avoidance.
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