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Why has Trump linked Tylenol use to autism?

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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In a statement that echoed throughout his administration, the ‘highly backed’ claim linked the pre-natal usage of acetaminophen to kids being born with autism.

As a new week comes into effect, so does another round of medical misinformation from the Trump administration.

It is astounding to think that despite his government being filled with anti-science members, somehow there’s always news around ‘heavily backed scientific findings’.

With that in mind, it was just a few days ago that President Donald Trump, himself make the comical claim that the usage of acetaminophen (Tylenol) results in autism. To be more specific, he stated that pregnant women who were to ingest the medication, would increase the risk of their kid being born within the autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The apparent thought process behind such a claim was to address the ‘skyrocketing’ cases of autism in the US. As a result, he cautioned pregnant women to limit their usage of acetaminophen, and that the Food and Drug Administration would modify the safety labels of the medication.

Autism is known for being a complex neurodevelopmental condition affecting communication, social interaction, and an individual’s perception of the world. This disorder does not have a singular cause and often varies from person to person. Often, it arises from an interplay of genetic and environmental factors.

Now, Trump isn’t wrong about the rise in such cases, but the reason behind them is much different than to what he claimed. The latest stats show that an estimated 1 in 31 children aged 8 and above have been identified with ASD.

This is compared to the year 2,000, wherein this number was a mere 1 in 150 children. The main reason for such a jump is an increase in diagnostic practices and awareness among parents.

Don’t be mistaken, there are actual studies done on the relationship between acetaminophen usage by pregnant mothers and kids being born with ASD. However, these studies show varying results, and only look at a correlation rather than a causal relationship. This is to say that even though some studies show a positive correlation between the two, often it is attributed to confounding variables.

What makes Trump’s assertion concerning is the certainty that comes with the claim. It’s even worse when you realise that there are more false medical claims that have been made in an effort to uphold ‘gold standard science’.

In fact, in his first term, which happened to be the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump went to the extent of downplaying the severity of the virus. On a similar note, he suggested using disinfectant, the sun, and heat as treatment for the virus.

He also signed an executive order mandating the prohibition of COVID-19 vaccines in schools, citing that the virus would not easily affect children. Additionally, the administration has promoted and later amplified skepticism of vaccines repeatedly.

This new claim about acetaminophen has led to a surge in pregnant women approaching doctors with a plethora of questions. This phenomenon has not just been observed in the US but globally. Hence, health authorities and medical experts from different corners of the world have come forward to reject the assertion citing the lack of conclusive evidence.

Moreover, with Trump’s statement causing anxiety among pregnant women, these medical professionals have warned that these women could end up foregoing necessary pain and fever treatment, jeopardizing their pregnancies.

As such, members of the scientific community have emphasized for the public to rely on established medical guidance rather than the US president’s claims.

It is almost ironic, isn’t it? When the supposed gold standard of science sinks to its lowest bar.

Remote Writer Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Hey, I’m Anyaa, a Behavioral Economist in the making who is currently doing a degree in Psychology. By nature, I’m a journalist who hopes to instigate conversations by sharing the stories and truths that make the world more comprehensible.

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