Health Check Trump’s unproven claims on autism and paracetamol
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Sep 24, 2025 
Philippa Roxby, a BBC health reporter, discusses a groundbreaking gene therapy that is slowing the progression of Huntington's disease, revealing a 75% success rate in trials. Field reporter Karim Mpawini shares gripping insights from Malawi, where cholera outbreaks are worsened by climate change. He captures local stories about water use and health system challenges. They also address President Trump's controversial claim linking paracetamol during pregnancy to autism, examining the unproven science behind it.
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No Clear Causal Link Found
- Multiple observational studies reported weak links between paracetamol in pregnancy and autism, but they have confounding problems.
- A large Swedish sibling analysis found no association, making a causal link unlikely.
Sibling Analysis Strengthens Evidence
- Sibling analyses control for shared genetic and environmental factors better than standard observational studies.
- The Swedish sibling study's null result weakens claims of paracetamol causing neurodevelopmental harm.
Treat Fevers But Minimise Use
- Use paracetamol in pregnancy only as needed and at the lowest effective dose for the shortest time.
- Untreated fever or pain in pregnancy can harm mother and baby, so treat high fevers with paracetamol.