'Evidence Remains Inconsistent': WHO On Autism Risk From Paracetamol Use During Pregnancy

Last Updated:September 23, 2025, 17:04 IST

Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic addressed concerns raised after Trump linked the popular painkiller to autism

The Pandemic Agreement involves setting up of a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System aimed at ensuring countries rapidly share data and details about pathogens causing outbreaks. (File Photo)

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday said that evidence linking paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism remains inconsistent, amid fresh controversy stirred by US President Donald Trump.

Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic addressed concerns raised after Trump linked the popular painkiller to autism, saying, “The evidence remains inconsistent."

Jasarevic also strongly defended the safety and importance of vaccines, which were also targeted in Trump’s claims, Reuters reported.

“We know that vaccines do not cause autism. Vaccines, as I said, save countless lives. So this is something that science has proven, and these things should not be really questioned," he added.

Trump’s remarks came during a press conference on Monday, where he suggested a connection between childhood autism and both vaccines and the use of Tylenol (the American brand name for paracetamol) during pregnancy. He claimed that the use of acetaminophen — the active ingredient in Tylenol — could significantly increase the risk of autism, despite no conclusive scientific evidence supporting this view.

The US President further announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would begin advising doctors to warn pregnant women about using the drug unless it is “medically necessary", particularly for treating fever.

“They are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol (Acetaminophen is Tylenol’s active ingredient) use during pregnancy unless medically necessary," Trump said, appearing alongside US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Medical experts and public health authorities have criticised the move, warning that such claims risk spreading misinformation and undermining trust in established medical guidance.

While some studies have explored a possible association between prolonged paracetamol use in pregnancy and developmental issues, leading health organisations stress that existing evidence is inconclusive and should not prompt panic or sudden changes in medical advice.

(With inputs from agencies)

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