PARACETAMOL is a drug that has commonly been used for decades to treat pain and fever, even by pregnant women.
However, United States President Donald Trump recently claimed that pregnant mothers using the drug would raise the chances of their children being autistic.
He also claimed that childhood vaccinations were linked to autism as well as promoting folinic acid (leucovorin) as a treatment for autism.
Is there any truth to this claim?
VERDICT:
FALSE
In a statement on Thursday (Sept 25), the Malaysian Health Ministry said there is no scientific evidence that links the use of paracetamol during pregnancy or childhood vaccines with autism.
"Vaccines do not cause autism. Strong evidence from high-quality studies conducted in various countries has repeatedly proven that there is no link between vaccines and autism.
"Globally, vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives over the past 50 years and currently protect communities against more than 30 types of infectious diseases.
"Meanwhile, paracetamol has long been used in medicine and is still considered one of the safest options if taken at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest possible duration.
"Pregnant women experiencing fever or pain may still use paracetamol when necessary, in accordance with advice from doctors or pharmacists," the ministry said in a statement on Thursday (Sep 25).
It added that numerous studies over the past decade have shown no strong scientific evidence to support an association between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism.
On the use of folinic acid to treat autism, the ministry said that scientific evidence remains limited to small-scale studies in specific groups.
It added that larger clinical trials are still required before the drug can be considered a safe and effective treatment for autism and should not be regarded as a standard treatment.
"The ministry advises the public not to be easily influenced by claims that are not supported by strong scientific evidence.
"We will remain committed to ensuring that every medication used in Malaysia is safe and effective, while strengthening the vaccine safety monitoring system in line with the latest scientific evidence," it added.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) as well as medical experts across the world have since refuted Trump's claims.
