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Claim: An Instagram user, @dalishealth, in April 2025 posted a video which claims that taking paracetamol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy causes autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children.
Verdict: Misleading. Although there have been studies suggesting a link between paracetamol consumption in pregnancy and autism and ADHD, available research and experts reveal there is no direct link.
Full Text
In April 2025, an Instagram user, @dalishealth, posted a video claiming that taking paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) during pregnancy causes autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children.
The two-minute clip featured supposed health experts linking the use of paracetamol during pregnancy to neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically autism and ADHD. The video quickly gained attention, sparking mixed reactions in the comment section.
Some users pushed back against the claim, calling it misleading. One user, @zaf_rzmn, shared a personal experience: “When I was pregnant, I had frequent fevers and took paracetamol many times. Alhamdulillah, nothing happened to my baby. I didn’t know then that it could be linked to autism. She’s now 4 years old and completely normal.”
Another user, @od.i.o.n, wrote, “This is a lie—they’re just trying to divert our attention from vaccines,” while @melita_downey added, “Omg, here we go again with the misinformation.”
A user identified as @dianewiese also noted, “This was disproved by a larger, much better study using sibling controls.”
Due to the sensitivity of pregnancy and the potential for misinformation to cause unnecessary fear, DUBAWA decided to fact-check the viral claim and provide evidence-based information to set the record straight.
Verification
Paracetamol is a non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic, meaning it helps ease pain and lower body temperature without the effects of opioids. Brand names such as Tylenol and Panadol are popular for selling paracetamol.
This medication is typically used to treat headaches, muscle aches, toothaches, colds, flu symptoms, and to reduce fever. Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is one of the most commonly used over-the-counter medications for pain relief and fever reduction, including during pregnancy. More than 50% of women globally use paracetamol during pregnancy, with headaches being the most common reason for its use.
Does the intake of paracetamol during pregnancy cause autism and ADHD in children?
Autism is a developmental disorder that impacts how a person communicates, interacts socially, and behaves. Social interaction and communication challenges, repetitive behaviours, and limited interests typically mark it.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), on the other hand, is a common neurodevelopmental condition that affects a person’s ability to focus, control impulses, and manage hyperactivity. Children with ADHD often struggle with concentration, may have difficulty sitting still, act impulsively, talk excessively, interrupt others, and avoid tasks that require prolonged attention.
For example, a 2021 study analysed 73,881 children for whom data were available on prenatal or postnatal exposure to paracetamol. The study found that children exposed to paracetamol before birth were 19% more likely to develop ASC symptoms and 21% more likely to develop ADHD symptoms than children who were not exposed.
However, a 2024 study involving 2.4 million children in Sweden found no link between the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and a higher risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities. The researchers compared siblings, one exposed to paracetamol in the womb and the other not, and found that children exposed to the medication did not face a greater risk of these conditions.
The study clearly stated that no increased risk could be directly attributed to paracetamol use during pregnancy.
Also, health organisations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommend paracetamol as the safest option for pain relief during pregnancy when used correctly. They stress that there is no strong evidence proving that taking paracetamol in standard doses during any trimester harms a baby’s brain development.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also does not currently restrict the use of paracetamol during pregnancy, but advises that it should be used cautiously, at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest possible time.
Meanwhile, DUBAWA discovered that the video circulated to support the claim was a news report by 9News Australia from five years ago. The clip is outdated.
What do experts say?
A Consultant Gynaecologist, Rotimi Stephen, said there is no conclusive evidence linking the use of paracetamol during pregnancy to autism or other developmental disorders in children, particularly within the Nigerian context.
Rotimi emphasised that paracetamol is widely regarded as safe for use during all stages of pregnancy when taken as directed.
“Paracetamol is more like a Category A drug. It is considered safe in all stages of pregnancy, especially when used within the recommended dosage,” he said. “It’s the go-to pain reliever for pregnant women, even in the first trimester. It’s not known to cause any harmful effects on the fetus,” he said.
Speaking further, Rotimi noted that autism is generally believed to have genetic origins, although other factors may also contribute. “It’s mostly a genetic condition that arises during the early stages of embryo formation. But it’s not entirely hereditary. Environmental influences, medications, or psychological issues during early development can also play a role. So, autism is not caused by just one factor,” he explained.
Also weighing in, another medical expert, Charles Okonkwo, pointed out that the studies suggesting a link between paracetamol use and neurodevelopmental disorders typically involved extreme, long-term use of the medication.
“In the studies that showed a link, the most consistent finding was long-term paracetamol usage in the mothers,” he said. “That means a woman would have to take paracetamol at least three times a day for about seven out of the nine months of pregnancy for her child to develop ADHD or autism.”
Charles maintained that normal, moderate use of paracetamol remains safe for pregnant women. In his words, “my take is that healthy use of paracetamol during pregnancy is safe for both mother and baby.”.
Conclusion
Current scientific evidence does not support the claim that paracetamol use during pregnancy causes autism or ADHD in children. Paracetamol remains the recommended pain and fever medication for pregnant women, and when used as directed, has no link with autism or ADHD.
