A new large study has found no link between autism and Tylenol use during pregnancy. This refutes claims made by President Trump and anti-vaccine Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that acetaminophen, sold as Tylenol, causes autism in children if taken during pregnancy.
Trump's warning led to a drop in Tylenol usage during pregnancies, with a study in The Lancet finding a 10 percent decrease in acetaminophen use in emergency departments after the press conference. Medical organizations have emphasized that acetaminophen is a safe pain and fever reliever during pregnancy.
The findings are significant as untreated fever during pregnancy can increase the risk of autism, miscarriage, birth defects, and premature birth. The study's results should reassure pregnant individuals about the safety of Tylenol, contrary to the warnings issued by Trump and Kennedy.
