What the data showed
The review examined outcomes from:
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More than 260,000 children assessed for autism
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Over 330,000 children evaluated for ADHD
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More than 400,000 children assessed for intellectual disability
When family-level factors were properly accounted for, the apparent links seen in earlier research disappeared.
According to the authors, this strongly suggests that prior warnings were driven not by acetaminophen itself, but by other maternal factors, such as fever, infection, inflammation, or chronic pain, all of which are known to influence pregnancy outcomes and child development.
Reassurance for pregnant patients
Medical experts involved in the review emphasized that acetaminophen remains the first-line treatment recommended during pregnancy for pain and fever. Untreated fever, in particular, has been associated with adverse outcomes for both mother and baby.
The researchers stressed that the findings do not suggest unlimited or careless use, but they do reinforce existing guidance that acetaminophen is safe when taken as directed.
Importantly, the results remained consistent even when the analysis was limited to studies rated as having the lowest risk of bias and when children were followed for several years after birth.
