Dual Dove
As per a new study, mothers who used paracetamol during pregnancy increased the risks of hyperactivity in children, without knowing that. The research carried on by scientists from Bristol University also concluded that paracetamol use during pregnancy could cause attention deficit in kids.
The researchers conducted their study on 14,000 children and established a connection between conventional drugs and behavioral and other health issues in kids. “Our findings add to a series of results concerning evidence of the possible adverse effects of taking paracetamol during pregnancy such as issues with asthma or behavior in the offspring,” said Professor Jean Golding, the study’s leading author.
“It reinforces the advice that women should be cautious when taking medication during pregnancy and to seek medical advice where necessary,” the researcher added, who also revealed that the team reviewed children of between 6 months and 11 years of age, testing their IQ levels and memory until they turned 17.
Paracetamol Use During Pregnancy Causes Hyperactivity In Children
“It is important that our findings are tested in other studies – we were not in a position to show a causal link, rather an association between two outcomes,” said Golding.
Accordingly, further studies are needed to confirm the results and assess if the link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and hyperactivity in children is indeed as strong as the research revealed. Besides, new studies could also determine if the hyperactivity and attention deficit issues in kids born to moms who used paracetamol while pregnant are either permanent or temporary.
“It would also be useful now to assess whether older children and adults are free of difficult behavioral problems if their mother had taken paracetamol,” concluded Professor Jean Golding. Nonetheless, the result of the research should raise an alarm signal in pregnant women so that they must stop using paracetamol during pregnancy, at least until we know for sure how is that affecting children.
