The healthcare sector is one of the widely researched sectors of the world. Recent studies have found out that paracetamol can have some adverse effects on the fetus during pregnancy. Evidently, the development of the fetus may be affected by paracetamol use while pregnant. The development of the fetus may be impacted by prenatal paracetamol exposure, according to numerous research. It has been demonstrated to raise the risk of a few mild neurodevelopmental abnormalities, and it might also have an impact on urogenital and reproductive health.
More than 600 drugs used to treat mild to moderate pain and lower fever include the active component paracetamol, also known as Acetaminophen or N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP). Due to the fact that governmental organizations like the FDA and EMA have long regarded Acetaminophen (APAP) as safe to consume during pregnancy if used as indicated, pregnant women frequently use it to manage symptoms like fever, body ache or head ache.
Studies have showed acetaminophen (paracetamol), which is commonly used during pregnancy, had a significant connection with attention-related and hyperactive symptoms in both boys and girls on the autistic spectrum. Research has found that the mothers who take paracetamol during pregnancy, the fetal development, in some cases also gets affected. The main reason behind the curiosity of the medical researchers to inquire about the impact of paracetamol during pregnancy is due to the prevalence of neurological, urogenital, and reproductive problems in young kids. Also, the number of kids who have cognitive, learning, and/or behavioral problems is rising alarmingly. For instance, according to the US National Health Interview Survey, between 2009 and 2017, roughly 1 in 6 children between the ages of 3 and 17 were diagnosed with a developmental disability. Between 2009-2011 and 2015-2017, there was a 9.5% increase in the overall incidence of mental impairments.
Male reproductive & urogenital diseases are also more prevalent in the Western areas. These conditions include early puberty, low sperm counts, high levels of sex hormones, impaired fertility, hypospadias, testicular germ cell carcinoma, and cryptorchidism. Data support the idea that these increases in the prevalence of neurological, urogenital, and reproductive problems are related to environmental exposure during fetal life, particularly exposure to drugs. Research has suggested that extensive prenatal exposure to paracetamol may increase the number of children with ADHD or autistic spectrum symptoms.
As a result, our advice is that pregnant women be instructed at the start of their pregnancy to avoid using APAP unless it is medically necessary. They should seek advice from a doctor or a pharmacist when they are unsure whether use is necessary. Furthermore, they should refrain from using APAP for an extended period of time and reduce vulnerability by utilizing the lowest possible dose for the smallest period of time. To put these suggestions into practice, we offer concrete advice to the expecting women to avoid all sorts of unnecessary medicines as much as possible.
Regards,
Minaam Jamil.
References
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-funded-study-suggests-acetaminophen-exposure-pregnancy-linked-higher-risk-adhd-autism
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-07-prenatal-exposure-paracetamol-autism-spectrum.html