Does consuming paracetamol during pregnancy cause mental illness in the child? How true is this?

Does Paracetamol During Pregnancy Cause Autism: Many claims have come to light in recent times regarding taking paracetamol during pregnancy. Even leaders like US President Donald Trump have said that taking paracetamol during pregnancy can increase the risk of mental problems like autism in children. But now a big fact-check has come out on this claim. Let us tell you whether it is really dangerous or whether a barrage of fake claims was made about it.

Research found no danger

A review published in the medical journal The Lancet clearly states that taking paracetamol during pregnancy does not increase any clinically significant risk of autism, ADHD or intellectual disability in children. In this study, the research done so far was reviewed in depth. The researcher says that the earlier studies which linked paracetamol to mental diseases had many flaws. These included data confusion, information based on inaccurate memory and the influence of other health factors, due to which the results could not be considered reliable.

According to this new review, family and genetic factors may be more likely to be the cause of autism or neurodevelopmental problems in children. That is, the appearance of such symptoms in the same family from generation to generation is a more logical reason and not a direct effect of paracetamol. In the research, more importance was given to those studies in which two pregnancies of the same mother were compared. Paracetamol was taken in one and not in the other. Such studies are able to better differentiate factors like genetics and home environment.

is divided into three steps

The researcher examined the studies related to paracetamol and pregnancy in three steps. The first step looked at 4,147 studies related to the use of paracetamol by pregnant women, of which 4,092 were excluded because their results were not directly related to the topic. In the second step, 55 full text research papers were reviewed in depth. Of these, 12 studies were removed due to lack of design, incomplete data or mismatch with the subject.

In the final step, 43 studies were systematically reviewed. Of these, 17 high-quality studies were selected for detailed statistical analysis, with priority given to studies comparing siblings, so that genetic and familial effects could be separated.

What do experts say?

Professor Asma Khalil, senior writer of the study, says that making such claims without solid evidence can create unnecessary fear in pregnant women. Current scientific evidence does not support these claims. Experts have reiterated that under the current medical guidelines, paracetamol taken as per doctor’s advice is considered safe during pregnancy, it is still a reliable option in case of pain or fever.

Read this also- Is the habit of cracking the neck a risk of stroke, the physician told – when does this problem increase?

Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

Check out below Health Tools-
Calculate Your Body Mass Index (BMI)

Calculate The Age Through Age Calculator