Donald Trump proclaims that paracetamol administered during pregnancy is a cause of autism, despite decades of studies confirming the safety of this medication.
The US President announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will notify doctors about the possible link between autism and the use of acetaminophen (marketed as Tylenol/Paracetamol) during pregnancy.
"I strongly recommend that women limit the use of Tylenol during pregnancy, unless medically necessary," said Trump, adding that it could only be justified in cases of severe fever.
Trump claimed that in Amish communities (religious, isolated, rejecting modern ways of life) or in Cuba ("where they don't have money to buy it"), there would be no autism, but these claims are proven false, writes NPR.
The Drug is Considered Safe by the Medical Community
Experts emphasize that science has not established any causal link between paracetamol and autism.
Most pregnant women use this medication at some point, considered the only safe over-the-counter option for pain or fever.
Other pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, can increase the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, or high blood pressure. Additionally, leaving a fever untreated during pregnancy can be dangerous for both the fetus and the mother.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2022 approximately 1 in 31 children was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder by the age of 8, compared to 1 in 36 in 2020 and 1 in 68 in 2015.
Experts warn that autism has multiple and complex causes, not reducible to a single factor as suggested by Trump.
Controversial Statements at the White House
Trump spoke from the Oval Office alongside Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz.
He thanked Kennedy, known for his anti-vaccine positions, "the man who brought this issue to the forefront of American politics, along with me." "I've understood much more than many people who have studied it," Trump said.
Trump suggested delaying children's vaccinations and even immunization against hepatitis B until the age of 12, although this vaccine has nearly eradicated infections in children.
"There's too much liquid, too many different things going into that child's body," said Trump, without providing evidence.
Kennedy supported his position, reiterating scientifically discredited claims regarding the link between vaccines and autism.