Worldwide search behavior following the HHS announcement on the association between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and autism spectrum disorders
Abstract
Abstract Background Acetaminophen is the most commonly used analgesic during pregnancy, though its association with neurodevelopmental disorders remains debated. Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued guidance indicating that prenatal acetaminophen use may carry a risk for autism spectrum disorder in offspring. Google Trends is widely used to quantify public engagement with health policy communications. However, no study has examined global information-seeking behavior following the HHS revised guidance on prenatal acetaminophen use and autism risk. Therefore, the present analysis aimed to assess changes in worldwide Google search volume for acetaminophen products and autism-related terminology after this announcement. Methodology : A repeated cross-sectional analysis of Google Trends data from February 2025 to January 2026 was conducted to examine Search Volume Index patterns for "Paracetamol/Acetaminophen," "Tylenol," "Autism," and "Autistic Spectrum Disorders" worldwide. Mean weekly search volumes were compared between the period preceding and following the September 2025 HHS announcement. Statistical analyses were performed using Student's t test, with significance defined as p Results A pronounced synchronous spike in search volume occurred during the final weeks of September 2025, coinciding precisely with the HHS announcement. Mean weekly searches for "Paracetamol" increased from 26.1 to 42.3 (p Conclusion The HHS announcement on prenatal…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.
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