The Australian government has requested urgent advice following unsubstantiated claims by former US President Donald Trump that paracetamol use during pregnancy may be linked to autism in children. Trump stated that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would immediately warn American physicians to advise pregnant women to avoid paracetamol unless medically necessary, such as for extremely high fever.
Trump urged pregnant women to 'fight like hell' not to take the drug, acknowledging that his advice contradicted current FDA guidance but was based on 'what I feel'. The active ingredient in paracetamol, known globally as paracetamol, has been suggested to potentially impact foetal brain development, but research remains inconsistent.
Australia's Health Minister Mark Butler has reportedly called for urgent advice following Trump's announcement. However, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) reiterated that paracetamol is safe and remains in pregnancy category A, meaning it is considered safe for use by pregnant women. The TGA stated it has no current active safety investigations for paracetamol and autism.
Dr Danielle McMullen, President of the Australian Medical Association, said there are no studies showing that paracetamol use in pregnancy causes autism. She noted that while some studies show an association, large studies have found no link, and association does not imply causation. Autism is most likely driven by genetic factors, she added.
Trump's claims come amid his administration's focus on rising autism rates in the US, with one in 31 children now estimated to have the condition, compared to one in 150 in 2000. Experts attribute the increase to broader diagnostic criteria and improved detection, rather than environmental factors like paracetamol.
