World Health Organisation joins international criticism on Trump's warnings against Tylenol

The world of medicine was shaken up furiously after Donald Trump, the President of the United States of America announced on September 22, that Tylenol use during pregnancy is linked to the rise of autism cases in children, in the US. “I’ll say it. It’s not good. For this reason, they are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary,” he said during a speech at the White House.

While his statement caused much buzz on social media and among the people, it lacked any scientific or medical evidence, something that world health officials have called him out on.



As soon as the news of the President's claim caught fire, health officials around the world issued statements rejecting it. "Available evidence has found no link between the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and autism," the European Medicines Agency, Europe's top drug regulator, said in a statement.

"Don't pay any attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine," Wes Streeting, the U.K. health secretary, said in an interview with ITV's Lorraine program. "I've just got to be really clear about this: there is no evidence to link the use of paracetamol by pregnant women to autism in their children. None."

World Health Organization joins international criticism of Trump's claims

Now, the World Health Organization has also joined the international pushback against the Trump administration's claims that acetaminophen use during pregnancy could lead to autism, saying there is "no conclusive scientific evidence confirming a possible link."

The organisation added that the exact cause of autism has not been established and that “it is understood there are multiple factors that can be involved.”

“Extensive research has been undertaken over the past decade, including large-scale studies, looking into links between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism,” the organization said in a statement. “At this time, no consistent association has been established.”

According to the WHO, nearly 62 million people have autism spectrum disorder, adding that the global community needs to "do more to understand the causes of autism and how best to care for and support the needs of autistic people and their families."