Thursday, September 25, 2025 - The World Health Organisation (WHO) stressed on Wednesday, September 24, that there is no conclusive scientific evidence linking autism to the use of acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, during pregnancy.
In a statement on its website, WHO highlighted that around
62 million people worldwide, or one in every 127 individuals, live with autism
spectrum disorder, a diverse set of conditions associated with brain
development. The organisation said that while awareness and diagnosis have
improved in recent years, the precise causes of autism remain unclear and are
believed to involve multiple factors
“Extensive research has been undertaken over the past
decade, including large-scale studies, looking into links between acetaminophen
use during pregnancy and autism. At this time, no consistent association has
been established,” WHO said.
The agency advised that all medicines during pregnancy
should be used cautiously and only under medical guidance, particularly in the
first trimester. It reaffirmed that women should continue to follow the advice
of their doctors or health workers when considering treatments.
WHO also reiterated that vaccines do not cause autism,
pushing back against claims that have fuelled misinformation campaigns for
decades. “A robust, extensive evidence base exists showing childhood vaccines
do not cause autism. Large, high-quality studies from many countries have all
reached the same conclusion,” it said. Original studies that claimed a
connection, WHO added, were flawed and have since been discredited. Since 1999,
independent experts advising WHO have repeatedly confirmed that vaccines, including
those containing thiomersal or aluminium, do not cause autism or other
developmental disorders.
The organization noted that national childhood vaccine
schedules, designed in consultation with global experts, have been adopted
worldwide and saved at least 154 million lives over the past 50 years. “These
schedules have continually evolved with science and now safeguard children,
adolescents, and adults against 30 infectious diseases,” WHO explained,
stressing that any disruption to immunization significantly raises infection
risks for vulnerable groups.
Autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions are among the
priority issues being discussed this week at the fourth United Nations
High-Level Meeting on non-communicable diseases and mental health. WHO emphasized
that global efforts must intensify to better understand the causes of autism
and to expand support for autistic people and their families
“WHO is committed to advancing this goal, working together
with partners, including autistic-led organizations and other organizations
representing persons with lived experience. WHO also stands with people who are
living with autism and their families, a dignified community entitled to
evidence-based considerations free of stigma,” the organization said.
The clarification comes just days after US President Donald
Trump reignited controversy by suggesting that pregnant women should avoid
Tylenol due to an unproven link to autism, and by calling for major changes to
infant vaccine schedules. WHO officials rejected those claims, with spokesman
Tarik Jasarevic noting that while some observational studies had suggested a
possible association between prenatal paracetamol use and autism, such studies
lacked control groups and were not sufficient to establish causality.
Medical groups worldwide continue to describe paracetamol as
one of the safest painkillers for use during pregnancy.
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