Overview
- The review assessed nine systematic reviews encompassing 40 observational studies on prenatal paracetamol exposure and child neurodevelopment.
- Overall confidence in the prior reviews was rated low to critically low, with frequent methodological flaws and heavy overlap of primary studies.
- Sibling-controlled studies from Sweden and Norway showed the apparent associations disappeared or were markedly reduced after adjusting for shared family factors.
- Medical bodies and regulators continue to advise using paracetamol for pain or fever in pregnancy when needed, noting that untreated fever carries known risks.
- The findings rebut political claims urging pregnant women to avoid Tylenol and highlight the need for higher-quality, pregnancy-specific safety research.