Paracetamol Use During Pregnancy and Autism Risk: Updated Guidelines

Strategic Insights -

The World Health Organization and several international drug regulatory authorities have emphasized that there is insufficient scientific evidence to link paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders in children. In Hong Kong, the government has reaffirmed its stance that all public health policies and medical advice must be based on scientific evidence, citing the lack of association between paracetamol use and autism. Despite this, healthcare professionals stress the importance of caution when prescribing medicines to pregnant women, particularly in the first trimester.

Key Takeaways:

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) states that there is insufficient scientific evidence to conclude that paracetamol use during pregnancy causes autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • Several drug regulatory authorities, including those in the European Union, the UK, Australia, and Canada, emphasize that paracetamol remains an important option for pregnant women to relieve pain or fever when clinically indicated.
  • The Department of Health in Hong Kong has emphasized the importance of consulting healthcare professionals or following medical advice before using any medicines, particularly in the first trimester.
  • There are about 700 registered medicines in Hong Kong containing paracetamol, with no reports linking paracetamol use to autism in children.
  • The universal childhood hepatitis B immunisation programme in Hong Kong has been implemented since 1988, with a current vaccination coverage rate among pre-school children reaching 99%.
  • The prevalence of hepatitis B among those aged under 35 has dropped below 1%, reflecting Hong Kong's progress towards realizing the goal of "hepatitis B-free generation".
  • The provision of hepatitis B vaccination to newborns has been instrumental in this achievement, with any proposal to delay newborn immunisations posing irreversible and significant public health risks.

Statistics:

  • 99%: current vaccination coverage rate among pre-school children in Hong Kong's universal childhood hepatitis B immunisation programme.
  • 1%: prevalence of hepatitis B among those aged under 35 in Hong Kong.
  • 90%: possibility of developing chronic hepatitis B (CHB) if a newborn is infected.
  • 1988: year in which the universal childhood hepatitis B immunisation programme was implemented in Hong Kong.
  • 2020-22: period during which the Population Health Survey was conducted.

Sources:

  • World Health Organization (WHO) statement on paracetamol use during pregnancy
  • European Union, UK, Australian and Canadian drug regulatory authorities' statements on paracetamol use during pregnancy
  • Hong Kong SAR Government press release on paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism risk
  • Department of Health, Hong Kong, statement on hepatitis B vaccination
  • Population Health Survey 2020-22 report on hepatitis B prevalence in Hong Kong