Tylenol is a popular brand of pain relief medication sold in the United States, Canada and some other countries. Its active ingredient is acetaminophen, which is called paracetamol outside North America.<\/p>\n
Tylenol maker Kenvue has defended the use of the drug in pregnant women.<\/p>\n
In a statement to the BBC, it said: “We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers.”<\/p>\n
Acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women, it added, and without it, women face a dangerous choice between suffering through conditions like fever or use riskier alternatives.<\/p>\n
The BBC has contacted the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for comment. <\/p>\n
In April, the leader of HHS, Robert F Kennedy Jr, pledged “a massive testing and research effort” to determine the cause of autism in five months.<\/p>\n
But experts have cautioned that finding the causes of autism – a complex syndrome that has been researched for decades – would not be simple. <\/p>\n
The widely held view of researchers is that there is no single cause of autism, which is thought to be the result of a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors.<\/p>\n
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology said doctors across the country have consistently identified Tylenol as one of the only safe pain relievers for pregnant women.<\/p>\n
“[S]tudies that have been conducted in the past, show no clear evidence that proves a direct relationship between the prudent use of acetaminophen during any trimester and fetal developmental issues,” the group has said. <\/p>\n
The drug is recommended by other major medical groups as well as other governments around the world. <\/p>\n