Taking paracetamol during pregnancy is linked to autism and ADHD in children, a new study claim. Boys whose mothers took the painkiller while expecting were more likely to be on the autistic spectrum while it was associated with higher rates of ADHD in both sexes.
Official guidelines say paracetamol should be taken only if necessary in pregnancy and for the shortest possible time. The latest study by Spanish researchers suggests children regularly exposed to the common medication while in the womb were more likely to show signs of both conditions.
In what has been hailed the first study of its kind, it looks at the association between the use of this drug in pregnancy and autism spectrum symptoms in children. Scientists say it is also the first study to report different effects on boys and girls.
They found those whose mothers took the drug regularly were 30 percent more likely to show impaired attention functions and an increase of two clinical symptoms of autism spectrum symptoms in boys.