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Higher Acetaminophen Intake in Pregnancy Linked to Attention Deficits in Young Children

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A new study links increased use of acetaminophen (paracetamol) during pregnancy – particularly in the second trimester – to modest but noticeable increases in problems with attention and behavior in 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds.
[Source: medicalxpress.com]

[Image source: Adobe Stock]

Comment

The publication of this study adds to a growing body of evidence linking frequent use of acetaminophen (paracetamol) during pregnancy to developmental problems in offspring. Summarizing their research, the researchers say the most important finding was that increasing use of the drug in expectant mothers resulted in children showing more attention-related problems and ADHD-type behaviors.

Other studies have found that taking acetaminophen during pregnancy, or administering it to babies during infancy, is associated with the child developing asthma a few years later. Research published in 2018 showed that when given to young children the drug can actually double the risk of asthma.

It is also known that using acetaminophen during pregnancy may cause harmful sex hormone abnormalities, potentially placing unborn babies at risk. And in a worrying example of how the use of pharmaceuticals can affect not just patients themselves but even their descendants, researchers have discovered that women taking the drug during pregnancy can potentially make their grandchildren infertile.

To learn more about the dangers of acetaminophen, see this article on our website.

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