Pregnant mothers taking paracetamol risk delivering the baby with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum conditions (ASC), mental health disorders. Researchers after conducting an epidemiological study of more than 70,000 children in six European cohorts have linked symptoms of ADHD and ASC to the mothers’ use of paracetamol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy.

In total, the researchers analysed 73,881 children for whom data were available on prenatal or postnatal exposure to paracetamol, at least one symptom of ASC or ADHD, and main covariates. Depending on the cohort, 14 per cent to 56 per cent of the mothers reported taking paracetamol while pregnant.

The study, published in the European Journal of Epidemiology, found that children exposed to paracetamol before birth were 19 per cent more likely to develop ASC symptoms and 21 per cent more likely to develop ADHD symptoms than children who were not exposed.

“Our findings are consistent with previous research,” explained ISGlobal researcher Sílvia Alemany, lead author of the study. “We also found that prenatal exposure to paracetamol affects boys and girls in a similar way, as we observed practically no differences.”

“Our results address some of the weaknesses of previous meta-analyses,” commented Jordi Sunyer, researcher at ISGlobal and last author of the study. “Considering all the evidence on the use of paracetamol and neurological development, we agree with previous recommendations indicating that while paracetamol should not be suppressed in pregnant women or children, it should be used only when necessary.”

At some point during pregnancy, an estimated 46%-56% of pregnant women in developed countries use paracetamol, which is considered the safest analgesic/antipyretic for pregnant women and children.

However, mounting evidence has linked prenatal paracetamol exposure to poorer cognitive performance, more behavioural problems, and ASC and ADHD symptoms.