By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Author
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump introduced Monday that his administration is strongly recommending that ladies restrict Tylenol use throughout being pregnant until medically mandatory. “I need to say it like it’s, don’t take Tylenol,” he mentioned, encouraging ladies to “simply battle like hell to not take it.” However his feedback got here underneath intense criticism from medical consultants and researchers — as a result of there’s no proof tying the painkiller to autism. He additionally made a variety of doubtful claims about autism, vaccines and coverings.
Right here’s a have a look at the information.
Are autism charges growing?
TRUMP: “Since 2000, autism charges have surged by far more than 400%.” He mentioned the speed was once 1 in 20,000, then 1 in 10,000 and now could be 1 in 31, saying “there’s one thing synthetic” to clarify it.
THE FACTS: It’s true that autism rates have ballooned however Trump’s numbers are off. The 1 in 10,000 determine dates again to the Nineties. In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put the speed at 1 in 150. In 2018, it was 1 in 44. The newest rely, primarily based on 2022 information, is 1 in 31.
Scientists say the reason is that many years in the past analysis was uncommon, given solely to children with extreme issues. Analysis of “autism spectrum dysfunction” started leaping as scientists discovered the developmental dysfunction encompasses a variety of traits and signs. And as instructional and different companies grew, extra mother and father started looking for diagnoses to assist their children.
Does maternal Tylenol use improve the infant’s possibilities of autism?
TRUMP: “Tylenol throughout being pregnant may be related to a really elevated danger of autism.”
THE FACTS: Research don’t show that. Even Trump’s Food and Drug Administration didn’t go practically that far in a letter to docs this week that as a substitute they “ought to think about minimizing” acetaminophen’s use in being pregnant.
It’s clear that genetics are the most important danger issue. Different dangers embody the age of a kid’s father, preterm start and whether or not the mom had well being issues throughout being pregnant equivalent to fevers, infections or diabetes.
Some research have raised the potential for a hyperlink between autism danger and utilizing acetaminophen throughout being pregnant — however extra haven’t discovered a connection.
These are observational research that examine well being information about prenatal acetaminophen and autism traits in kids. The massive downside: These sorts of research can’t inform if the painkiller actually made any distinction – or if as a substitute it was the fever or different well being downside that prompted the necessity for the tablet.
The Coalition of Autism Scientists notes that use of acetaminophen – or paracetamol because it’s identified outdoors the U.S. — throughout being pregnant hasn’t elevated in current many years like autism charges have.
The dangers of not treating a fever
TRUMP: “There’s no draw back in not taking it,” he mentioned in urging ladies to not take Tylenol throughout being pregnant.
THE FACTS: There are enormous downsides to avoiding Tylenol when a pregnant lady actually wants it, based on the nation’s main being pregnant docs. Untreated fevers, for instance, can improve the chance of start defects, untimely start and miscarriages, based on the Society for Maternal-Fetal Drugs.
Each the society and the American Faculty of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say the painkiller is a protected and wanted choice throughout being pregnant. The over-the-counter drug’s label already tells pregnant ladies to seek the advice of their physician about its use.
“The situations individuals use acetaminophen to deal with throughout being pregnant are way more harmful than any theoretical dangers,” ACOG mentioned.
Autism has been gaining in visibility in Cuba
TRUMP: ““I hear Cuba doesn’t have it as a result of it’s very costly and so they don’t have the cash to have it, or they don’t need to spend the cash to have it. They don’t have Tylenol. And I hear they’ve primarily no autism.”
THE FACTS: In Cuba, as in lots of areas world wide, autism has begun to achieve visibility lately. Consciousness campaigns have been launched on state tv to advertise the inclusion of autistic individuals. And based on Ministry of Training psychologist Lisbet Rizo Suárez, Cuba has 9 instructional establishments to serve autistic kids.
As for paracetamol, as Tylenol is understood outdoors of the U.S., it’s extensively utilized in Cuba and docs prescribe it with out restrictions.
Autism is present in Amish communities
TRUMP, saying sure teams that don’t take vaccines or drugs haven’t any autism, “the Amish, is an instance. They’ve primarily no autism.”
THE FACTS: That is false. Whereas there’s restricted scientific information round autism within the Amish neighborhood, research have discovered that there are circumstances. A 2010 paper from the Worldwide Society for Autism Analysis discovered autism was much less prevalent in Amish communities than the U.S. total, nevertheless it known as for additional research to find out how “cultural norms and customs” performed a task within the numbers.
Braxton Mitchell, an epidemiologist on the College of Maryland College of Drugs who has labored with the Amish neighborhood for 30 years, mentioned his group has confirmed there’s autism in the neighborhood. He mentioned Tylenol is utilized by many Amish and a few select to vaccinate their kids, others don’t.
However he mentioned it’s a problem to assemble dependable information on the topic as a result of autism and different associated situations require scientific assessments and skilled analysis, which Amish households might not search out.
Trump overstates childhood vaccinations
TRUMP: “You might have a little bit little one, a little bit fragile little one, and also you get a vat of 80 totally different vaccines, I suppose, 80 totally different blends.”
THE FACTS: The present childhood vaccination schedule recommends routine safety towards 18 illnesses. They’re not all given to “a little bit little one” however at totally different ages.
What number of pictures that provides as much as between start and age 18 can differ. The quantity is nearer to a few dozen should you don’t rely once-a-year flu pictures or an annual COVID-19 vaccine.
Vaccines have been confirmed to guard kids from as soon as frequent lethal illnesses. There isn’t a proof that the schedule is dangerous.
As for autism, scientists and main advocacy groups for individuals with autism agree there’s no vaccine link to the disorder.
“Research have repeatedly discovered no credible hyperlink between life-saving childhood vaccines and autism. This analysis, in lots of international locations, involving 1000’s of people, has spanned a number of many years. Any effort to misrepresent sound, sturdy science poses a menace to the well being of youngsters,” mentioned Dr. Susan Kressly of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Why infants ought to get a hepatitis B vaccine
TRUMP: “Hepatitis B is sexually transmitted. There’s no motive to present a child that’s nearly simply born Hepatitis B. So I might say wait until the infant is 12 years previous and shaped.”
THE FACTS: Hepatitis B could cause severe liver harm and it’s true that in adults, the virus is unfold by intercourse or sharing needles throughout injection-drug use.
However for infants, it’s a distinct story. If a pregnant lady carries the virus, she will be able to go it to her child throughout supply. Whereas mothers-to-be are alleged to be examined, not all are. The virus can also reside on surfaces for greater than seven days at room temperature, which means unvaccinated infants dwelling with anybody with a power an infection may be in danger.
Since 2005, U.S. well being officers have really helpful giving the primary dose of a hepatitis B vaccine inside 24 hours of start for many infants. Consequently, toddler infections have dropped sharply.
The problem with up MMR vaccines
TRUMP: The MMR, I believe, ought to be taken individually. That is primarily based on what I really feel, the, mumps, measles and and the three ought to be taken individually. And it appears to be that if you combine them, there might be an issue. So there’s no draw back in taking them individually. In truth, they assume it’s higher.”
THE FACTS: Trump is referring to the vaccine that mixes safety towards measles, mumps and rubella. And his suggestion of separating that one mixture shot into three isn’t doable. In line with the American Academy of Pediatrics, there aren’t any single-antigen variations – no measles-only, mumps-only, rubella-only pictures – out there.
Early concern a few doable hyperlink between vaccines and autism arose from falsified details about the MMR vaccine in a 1998 paper that was later retracted by the medical journal that revealed it.
Wouldn’t it be safer for folks to interrupt up vaccines for infants?
TRUMP: On spacing out vaccines for infants, “Break up your visits to the docs. Break them up.”
THE FACTS: That message infuriates pediatricians.
“Spacing out or delaying vaccines means kids is not going to have immunity towards these illnesses at occasions when they’re most in danger,” mentioned Kressly, the president of the AAP.
It’s additionally onerous for folks to make repeat visits for vaccinations outdoors of the conventional well-baby schedule.
Trump touts an unproven therapy for autism
TRUMP, discussing a doable new therapy: “And the infant can get higher, and in some circumstances could also be considerably higher.”
THE FACTS: That’s not confirmed, a minimum of not but. Trump was referring to a folic acid metabolite known as leucovorin – and it’s removed from clear if it’s actually an efficient therapy and in that case, for which individuals.
Low ranges of folate, a type of vitamin B, are linked to sure start defects so ladies already are advised to take folic acid earlier than conception and through being pregnant.
A small proportion of individuals with autism additionally seem to have low ranges of folate of their brains, presumably due to antibodies that block it. The Autism Science Basis cautions that their non-autistic family additionally typically have these antibodies, suggesting that’s not a explanation for autism.
However the principle is that giving folate to that subset of autistic individuals may enhance sure signs. Only some very small scientific trials have been performed with the drug. So the inspiration and different autism consultants say giant, rigorous research are wanted earlier than it may be really helpful as a therapy.
Related Press journalists Andrea Rodriguez in Havana and Barbara Whitaker in New York contributed reporting.
The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Academic Media Group and the Robert Wooden Johnson Basis. The AP is solely accountable for all content material.
Discover AP Truth Checks right here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.
Initially Printed:
