ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2025, US President Donald Trump claims that the use of Tylenol (usual brand) for Acetaminophen or Paracetamol is linked to Autism for pregnant women. This made me anxious.
Why?
In medical practice and in the books, we follow that paracetamol is safe for women who are pregnant or in gestation. As I look through for more reasons or an actual study that would link paracetamol to autism, let us find out why US President Trump claim as such for this over- the- counter drug.
A published study on June 6, 2025 by Johns Hopkins University, it was found out that 1 in 31 8-year-olds are diagnosed to be in the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Meanwhile, locally in 2023, a Department of Health statistic was released that from 500,000 autism cases in 2008, it had ballooned to 1,000,000 cases in 2018.
Autism is part of a spectrum or called as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is a condition related to the brain development of a child, usually noted at 1 to 3 years of age which may affect social, cognitive, verbal and motor skills. Since it is a spectrum, like a rainbow, it means it can have different signs and symptoms and Autism is not one size fits all.
Some of the various social and interaction symptoms are lack of eye contact, does not respond to name or voice of a parent, use few or no gestures by age of 12 months like not waving bye-bye, does not join in play with other children by 3 years of age and does not engage in sing or dance by age 5.
Meanwhile certain behaviors may point to ASD such as persistent flapping of arms, uneasiness for affection or hugging, plays with an object persistently without intention, obsessive interests and gets upset with changes.
In the spectrum, there with be mild, moderate and severe symptoms, and many are Highly-functioning meaning that with intervention, children with ASD may be able to flourish in the normal environment.
In Iloilo City, the City Social Welfare has a long standing TAWAG Program. This program identifies patient who have neurodevelopmental disorder including patients with Cerebral Palsy. Trained daycare workers hold mainstream classes which hold for our patients for the 7 districts of Iloilo City. Quite recently, Mayor Raissa Treñas with the Direction of Gab Umadhay are spearheading the RISE-Able program which is an intervention for Highly functioning children 6 years of age and below. This program advocates that a 2-year intervention will be given to children in the hopes that they will be prepared to be released in the normal school setting after intervention. It is composed of a team of an occupational therapist, and psychologists which will give one on one intervention and rehabilitation for these children. As to date 24 children are enrolled in the RISE-Able program.
Children in the Autism Spectrum need our patience, love and attention because they all have a chance to be highly functioning individuals. They need to be able to look at us eye to eye. As parents, we have to check the developmental milestones of our children because for Autism Spectrum Disorder, early intervention is key.
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The author is Dr. Candice Magdalane A. Tupas, a former 3 termer City Councilor and presently the Executive Assistant to Mayor Raisa Trenas for Medical Tourism and Other Health Initiatives . She is a practicing Radiologist, a Wife to Former City Councilor Lex Tupas and mother to Alexa, Lextom, Lexie and Alexander./PN
