Trump officials are expected to link the use of pain reliever Tylenol in pregnant women to autism, according to US media reports.
At an Oval Office event on Monday, the US president will reportedly advise pregnant women in the US to only take Tylenol, known as paracetamol elsewhere, to relieve high fevers.
At the Charlie Kirk memorial service on Sunday, Trump said he had an amazing announcement coming on autism, saying it was out of control but they might now have a reason why.
Some studies have shown a link between pregnant women taking Tylenol and autism, but these findings are inconsistent and do not prove the drug causes autism.
Tylenol is a popular brand of pain relief medication sold in the United States, Canada and some other countries. Its active ingredient is acetaminophen, which is called paracetamol outside North America.
Tylenol maker Kenvue has defended the use of the drug in pregnant women. In a statement to the BBC, it said: We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers.
Acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women, it added, and without it, women face a dangerous choice between suffering through conditions like fever or use riskier alternatives.
Experts have cautioned that finding the causes of autism – a complex syndrome that has been researched for decades – would not be simple. The widely held view among researchers is that there is no single cause of autism, which is thought to be the result of a complicated mix of genetic and environmental factors.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology stated that doctors across the country have consistently identified Tylenol as one of the only safe pain relievers for pregnant women, with previous studies showing no clear evidence that proves a direct relationship between prudent use of acetaminophen during any trimester and fetal developmental issues.
Nevertheless, the conversation around Tylenol's association with autism showcases how public health discussions can rapidly become politicized, especially in the context of Trump and Kennedy's advocacy initiatives.
