An extensive review of paracetamol used in pregnant women found no convincing link between the common pain syndrome and instances of children being diagnosed with autism and ADHD.
The publication of the work is fast tracked to provide expectant mothers and their doctors with reliable information that is encouraged by pregnant women or claims that share the increased rates of autism.
Speaking at the White House in September, the President of the State said that women should talk to their doctor about limiting painkillers, followed by women who “fight like hell” not to take them.
While the rates of autism have risen in recent decades, many scientists believe that the trend is driven by greater awareness, the development of the diagnostic criteria Doctors use to describe the condition.
In an umbrella review published in Medical Journal Journal On Monday, researchers analyzed published scientific reviews whether Paracetamol increases the likelihood of pregnant women having children diagnosed with autism or adhd.
They concluded the quality of the reviews from “Below critical low”, while any apparent link between Pa -tkiller and Autism might be explained by family genetics and other factors.
Prof. Shakila Thangkatatin
“If pregnant women need to take paracetamol for fever or pain then we say please do, because high fever in pregnancy can be dangerous to the unborn child.” Alternative painkillers such as ibuprofen are not recommended during pregnancy.
The researchers reviewed nine systematic reviews. It includes 40 observational studies on the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and autism, ADHD and other conditions in children. All reviews report at least one possible association between the use of a paracetamol by a mother in pregnancy and autism or adhd in their children, but seven encourage the findings because they do not mention other factors.
Only one review included two studies that properly accounted for family genetics and other shared factors such as preexisting maternal health conditions. One, Published last yearfound rates of autism, adhd and intellectual disability significantly higher in 2.4 million children in Sweden whose mothers took paracetamol. But when the authors compared siblings who were exposed to the disease with those who weren’t, the effect disappeared. This suggests that instead of paracetamol, the mother’s genetics, underlying health conditions or other shared environmental factors are responsible.
“If there is a family history of Autism and ADHD, either in parents or in siblings, it may be likely that a child will be diagnosed,” said the mamaaratinam.
More than providing an overview of the evidence, the findings should reassure women who may feel guilty about taking paracetamol during pregnancy. “Maybe there’s an autistic child with ADHD and we don’t really want them to think it’s because of something they did during pregnancy. “There’s nothing in the current evidence to suggest that mothers taking paracetamol actually cause autism and ADHD.”
Prof Dimitrios Siasakos, an Honorary Consultant at University College London, said the review confirmed what experts around the world had said.
“Paracetamol is the safest drug available in pregnancy, and has been used by most pregnant women in the world for decades without side effects in Autism and ADHD,” says Adhd. “It is also the safest to use when there is a fever in the mother, while the unacknowledged temperature is a factor in the failure of the fetal and neonatal broins and bad inflammation and bad inflammation can cross the placenta.”