South African medical societies say paracetamol is safe for use during pregnancy

PARACETAMOL remains the safest and most effective first-line treatment for pain and fever in pregnancy, as no alternative agent has a superior safety profile.

- STAFF REPORTER

This is according to the South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SASOG), the Society of Obstetric Medicine South Africa (SOOMSA), and the South African Society for Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (SASUOG) which released a joint statement on the matter after statements and media reports suggested a link between paracetamol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

US President Donald Trump earlier this week said that pregnant women should “tough it out” and avoid Tylenol (acetaminophen) over an unproven link to autism.

He said “taking Tylenol is not good” and to “fight like hell not to take it”.