“What we know is that paracetamol is really effective in reducing fever in pregnancy, and also reducing pain. And there are consequences of not reducing fever or pain that can have implications for the health of the mum, as well as the health of the baby.<\/p>\n
“So any kind of research in this area must always look at a balance of what could be the effects of not taking this.”<\/p>\n
Danielle McMullenPresident of the Australian Medical Association<\/p>\n
Dr Danielle McMullen says Australian regulators consider paracetamol safe to use during pregnancy. (Supplied)<\/p>\n
Dr McMullen says paracetamol is considered a category A medicine, which means the TGA and other regulators consider it safe to use in pregnancy.<\/p>\n
“Certainly for pain or fever in pregnancy, the advice is still here that paracetamol in pregnancy is a reasonable and safe option for Australian women to use,” she said.<\/p>\n
“It’s really important that we think about that science and critically analyse it before causing fear in families, and hence, why the medical community today is responding and saying all medicines should be used with caution during pregnancy, but paracetamol has been widely used and is still considered a safe option.”<\/p>\n
Norman SwanRadio National’s Health Report host<\/p>\n
Dr Swan says the studies that Mr Trump is pointing to are “messy” and “poorly conducted”.<\/p>\n
“When you have looked at the studies, the definition of what is wrong with the children has been loose, you’re not quite sure if the woman did take Tylenol, the paracetamol and what they took it for,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Women are taking it for a reason.<\/p>\n
“What is known is that fever in pregnancy is not good for the unborn child and you want to prevent fever, hence influenza immunisation, hence COVID immunisation.<\/p>\n
“You want to minimise the chances a woman will get infected with a virus.<\/p>\n
“If you do get a fever, paracetamol is what will get rid of it.”<\/p>\n
Hannah KirkNational Health and Medical Research Council<\/p>\n
Dr Kirk, a fellow at Monash University, said Mr Trump’s announcement had raised concern among expectant parents.<\/p>\n
“Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition with no known single cause; however, research shows that genetics play a large role, with hundreds of genes being linked to autism,” she said.<\/p>\n
“No study has shown that acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, causes autism.<\/p>\n
“Some studies have reported an association between acetaminophen use and autism, while others have not.<\/p>\n
“Importantly, association does not mean causation.”<\/p>\n
Scott WhiteRoyal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)<\/p>\n
The chair of RANZCOG said robust scientific evidence shows no link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism or ADHD, with several large and reliable studies directly contradicting the Trump administration’s statement.<\/p>\n