Recent claims about Tylenol and autism have raised questions about whether acetaminophen is safe to use during pregnancy or in young children — questions that can feel overwhelming when your child is sick and you just want to do the right thing. We asked Dr. Susanna Block, a Seattle pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente and longtime contributor to our Ask the Pediatrician series, to explain what parents should know. In addition to her clinical work as a pediatric hospitalist and urgent care provider, Dr. Block is deeply involved in medical education and community service — work that earned her the 2019 David Lawrence National Award for Community Service.
Here, Dr. Block explains what parents should know about Tylenol and autism claims, why acetaminophen remains a trusted option during pregnancy and childhood, and how physicians work alongside families to make safe, individualized decisions.
I am pregnant. Can I take Tylenol?
Dr. Block: Yes. Acetaminophen remains one of the few safe and effective options available to pregnant patients for managing pain and fever — conditions that, when left untreated, can pose serious risks to both the mother and baby.
Your physician can explain the latest research, the known risks and benefits, and can discuss your individual health needs. Decisions regarding your health are made together with your physician, with careful consideration for your health and the health of your baby.
Is it safe to give my young child Tylenol?
Yes, acetaminophen is a safe and effective medication for young children. It has been proven over decades to be the safest way to treat fever.
If autism rates are rising, doesn’t that mean Tylenol could be the cause?
No. As the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has pointed out, autism rates have increased over the past two decades, but acetaminophen use has not. This makes it very difficult to conclude that Tylenol is the cause of autism. Additionally, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine continues to recommend acetaminophen as appropriate for treating pain and fever during pregnancy. No causal link has been established between acetaminophen use and conditions like autism or ADHD.
Will Kaiser Permanente be prescribing folinic acid (leucovorin) for autism?
Not at this time. The current evidence supporting folinic acid (also known as leucovorin) use as a treatment for autism is limited. There have been a handful of very small studies which have shown mixed results. We support additional research including a large-scale clinical trial of this treatment to determine its potential benefit before endorsing a more general recommendation for its use in treating autism.
For more pediatric guidance, check out our Q&A on the MMRV vaccine and febrile seizures.
