Expectant mothers in Malta are being urged not to panic after US President Donald Trump claimed earlier this week that taking paracetamol during pregnancy could cause autism.Speaking from the White House, Trump said doctors would soon be advised to limit Tylenol – the US brand name for paracetamol -in pregnant women, claiming the drug carries a “very increased risk” of autism. The comments sparked concern worldwide, but medical experts insist there is no evidence to back them.Both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Malta’s Autism Advisory Council (AAC) have rejected the suggestion. In response to Trump’s claims, the WHO reiterated that large-scale studies over the past decade have “found no consistent association” between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism. The AAC stressed that association is not causation, warning that such claims unfairly risk burdening mothers with guilt.Researchers note that the belief stems from several observational studies over the past decade. Some have found correlations between prolonged or high-frequency use of paracetamol during pregnancy and a modest increase in autism or ADHD diagnoses in children. Others have pointed out that the underlying reason for taking the drug – such as fever or infection – may itself be a risk factor. Inflammation and immune activation during pregnancy are being studied as possible biological pathways. However, these findings show correlation only; no causal link has been proven.“The claim is not supported by scientific evidence,” Prof Nigel Camilleri, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and Clinical Lead within TAASC, Vice president for ACAMH told Lovin Malta. He added that the World Health Organisation has stated there is no proven link between paracetamol use and autism. “Autism a neurodevelopmental condition predates the introduction of paracetamol, and attributing causation to the drug is unfounded,” he said. Camilleri also warned that such claims risk creating unnecessary stigma and guilt among mothers who have taken the medicine during pregnancy. “Current scientific understanding shows that autism is primarily hereditary in nature and not caused by the intake of specific medications,” he added.Ms Isabelle Saliba, President of the Malta College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said paracetamol remains the first-line option for pregnant women who need pain or fever relief. “We, like most international colleges, recommend paracetamol as the first choice for pregnant women with fever or pain. Like any medication, it should be used cautiously — at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest necessary duration, and ideally under medical advice,” Saliba said.A 2024 Harvard and Mount Sinai review analysed 46 studies into paracetamol and neurodevelopmental outcomes. The results were inconsistent: 27 studies showed some form of association, while many showed none at all. The review’s authors themselves concluded that the data was too mixed to prove causation, comparing it to the way ice cream sales and crime both rise in summer without one causing the other.Meanwhile, a major Swedish study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found no link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism, ADHD or other developmental disorders in more than two million children.Paracetamol has long been considered the safest option for managing fever and pain during pregnancy. Unlike other over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin, it does not carry a heightened risk of complications. Doctors emphasise that untreated fever itself can be dangerous for both mother and baby, making paracetamol an important tool when medically needed.Maltese experts say mothers should not feel guilty for following medical advice, and stress that unfounded claims do more harm than good.For expectant mothers, the message is simple: follow the guidance of your doctor, trust the science and do not let unproven theories cause unnecessary fear.•