Tylenol: Trust doctors over Trump on paracetamol, Wes Streeting says

Tylenol: Trust doctors over Trump on paracetamol, Wes Streeting says

UK’s health secretary, Wes Streeting, is urging pregnant women to disregard President Trump’s unverified claims regarding taking paracetamol and its purported link to autism in children. Streeting emphasized his trust in medical professionals over the US president and advised expectant mothers to ignore Trump’s assertions. This comes after Trump stated that paracetamol, known as Tylenol in the US, is not suitable for pregnant women due to an alleged connection with autism, a claim disputed by medical experts.

According to health officials in the UK, paracetamol remains the safest pain relief option for pregnant women, contrary to Trump’s advice. The NHS website indicates that paracetamol is the preferred choice for pregnant individuals and is deemed safe for the baby, unlike aspirin and ibuprofen, which can pose risks to the baby’s circulation. Streeting highlighted a significant Swedish study involving 2.4 million children that found no correlation between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism.

The healthcare community swiftly rebuked Trump’s statements, with the UK’s National Autistic Society denouncing his promotion of misinformation and fearmongering. The organization’s representative, Mel Merritt, criticized the dissemination of false claims by the Trump administration, which she deemed anti-scientific and irresponsible. While a review of research led by the dean of Harvard University’s Chan School of Public Health suggested a potential association between Tylenol exposure during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders, more research is required to confirm these findings.

Monique Botha, a professor in social and developmental psychology at Durham University, cautioned against the fear-inducing rhetoric that could deter pregnant women from seeking appropriate care. Professor Claire Anderson of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the longstanding safe use of paracetamol by millions of individuals, including pregnant women. In the US, the president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists refuted Trump’s assertions, highlighting the absence of clear evidence linking acetaminophen use to foetal developmental issues. The FDA emphasized the importance of balancing the limited use of Tylenol with its effectiveness in treating fever and pain in pregnant women to safeguard maternal and foetal health

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