Use of paracetamol during pregnancy related to behavioral problems in children

A new study by researchers at the University of Bristol has highlighted new evidence linking paracetamol use during pregnancy with potential negative cognitive and cognitive consequences during childhood.

Lead author Jean Golding says the findings reinforce the advice that women should be cautious when taking medication during pregnancy.

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Paracetamol is often used to relieve pain during pregnancy and is the treatment of choice recommended by the NHS.

Most epidemiological studies evaluating the potential adverse effects of taking paracetamol during pregnancy have focused on asthma in children and the results of several of them have confirmed a strong association, say Golding and his team.

Recently, a few cohort studies have also examined whether the use of the drug was associated with certain neurocognitive outcomes and several of these involved hyperactivity. However, to confirm these results, additional information and results are needed, the team said.

Study the link between paracetamol and behavioral problems

As recently reported in the newspaper Pediatric and perinatal epidemiology, the researchers examined whether paracetamol use in mid-pregnancy (18 to 32 weeks of pregnancy) was associated with cognitive and behavioral outcomes in a large cohort of children aged 6 months to 11 years. The children also had their memory and IQ tested until the age of 17.

The team used data from the Avon Longitudinal Parent and Child Study (ALSPAC) at 32 weeks' gestation, which is the 18- to 32-week gestation period. Also known as the "Children of the 90s" study, ALSPAC is a world-class birth cohort study that tracked the health of 14,500 families in the Bristol area.

At 32 weeks, 43.9% of women had taken paracetamol "sometimes" or more frequently in the previous three months.

First, the team used an exponent analysis to determine the background factors associated with women taking the drug. These factors were then adjusted, while any association with the results for the child was evaluated with the help of a regression analysis. The researchers used the results of memory, IQ, and preschool development tests, as well as temperament and behavioral measures.

Discover a link

The study identified an association between the use of paracetamol in the mother and difficult behaviors such as hyperactivity and attention problems in childhood, based on the reported by mothers when children were 42 and 47 months old.

However, few associations with behavioral or neurocognitive outcomes have been observed after children have reached the age of 7 to 8 years old, whether they are based on maternal or maternal reports. 39, a teacher.

This suggests that the use of paracetamol in mid-pregnancy would have more negative effect on cognitive and behavioral outcomes by the end of primary education.

The study suggests that women should be cautious when taking paracetamol during pregnancy

Our findings add to a series of findings regarding evidence of possible adverse effects of taking paracetamol during pregnancy, such as asthma problems or offspring behavior. This reinforces the advice that women should exercise caution when taking medication during pregnancy and seek medical attention if necessary. "

Jean Golding, lead author

She emphasizes that it is important to ensure that results are tested in subsequent studies with the help of other datasets or methods, as the team is not able to show a causal link, but an association.

The researchers say that if the use of paracetamol in the middle of pregnancy has a detrimental effect on the child's neurocognitive outcomes, it seems mainly related to the preschool period.

"It would also be useful now to evaluate whether older children and adults have no difficult behavior problems if their mother had taken paracetamol," Golding concludes.

NHS states that taking paracetamol during pregnancy is safe

The NHS advises that if a mother experiences pain during pregnancy, paracetamol is usually a safe analgesic. However, women should consult their midwife or doctor before taking the medicine.

Paracetamol is the treatment of choice for pregnant pregnant women suffering from pain at any stage of their pregnancy, to relieve mild to moderate pain and to reduce fever.

However, as with any medication taken during pregnancy, the minimum effective dose should be used for as short a time as possible. If the recommended dose is not enough to relieve symptoms, seek advice from your GP or midwife.

Combined tablets of paracetamol and caffeine

The NHS does not recommend the use of a table associating paracetamol and caffeine. In addition to increasing the risk of miscarriage, high consumption of caffeine can result in low birth weight, which is associated with an increased risk of health problems later in life. It is not necessary to completely avoid caffeine intake, but the NHS recommends limiting it to 200 mg daily.

What about ibuprofen?

The recommendations regarding the use of ibuprofen are different and depend on the stage of pregnancy.

Medications should be avoided in general

Ideally, the use of any medication during pregnancy should be avoided during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. Minor pains and colds usually do not require medication, but women who feel they need it should take it first with their doctor, midwife or local pharmacy. One can also seek advice by calling the emergency services.