US President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. caused outrage this week by urging pregnant women not to take Tylenol, suggesting there is a possible link between the active ingredient acetaminophen and autism. Trump urged women to "fight like hell" not to take it, saying there was "no downside" to avoiding the medication. But health professionals say the advice overlooks well-documented risks of not treating fevers in pregnancy, the New York Times reported.

Acetaminophen as the only safe option

For decades, acetaminophen — also referred to as Tylenol — has been considered the safest option for pregnant women to take in order to relieve pain or fever. Other drugs, such as ibuprofen, are typically avoided because research illustrates that they are toxic to the foetus.

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