The debate over what causes autism has reignited once again. A forthcoming report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is expected to link prenatal use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and vitamin deficiencies to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The report is already drawing sharp criticism from scientists who say the claims lack solid evidence and risk fueling confusion among parents.

At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its latest data on autism prevalence, reflecting more than two decades of careful monitoring. Together, these two developments highlight the tension between scientific evidence and political narratives—and underscore the urgent need to separate facts from speculation.

Acetaminophen, widely sold under the brand name Tylenol, is one of the most commonly used painkillers in the United States, including during pregnancy. The new report, according to The Wall Street Journal, is expected to suggest that prenatal Tylenol exposure, combined with low folate levels, may increase autism risk. It will also highlight folinic acid (leucovorin), a form of vitamin B9, as a potential therapy for easing autism symptoms.

However, major medical organizations strongly disagree. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine stated that acetaminophen is both safe and necessary during pregnancy, especially for managing fever and pain. Untreated fever in early pregnancy, the group noted, is linked to miscarriage, premature birth, and birth defects, while untreated pain can lead to maternal depression, anxiety, and hypertension.

Drugmaker Kenvue, which markets Tylenol, also emphasized that decades of safety evaluations show no proven causal link between acetaminophen and autism. “We have continuously evaluated the science and continue to believe there is no causal link,” the company said.

What the Science Actually Shows About Autism-Tylenol Debate?

A few small observational studies have hinted at possible associations between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and later diagnoses of autism or ADHD. But association is not causation, and those studies lacked the statistical power to draw strong conclusions.

The largest and most comprehensive research on the subject, an NIH-funded collaboration between U.S. and Swedish scientists, found no increased risk of autism from prenatal acetaminophen exposure. Similarly, a U.S. District Court dismissed product liability claims linking Tylenol to autism, concluding the science was insufficient to support such allegations.

“Claims like these can spread unnecessary fear among expectant mothers,” said experts from the Autism Science Foundation, which has called for caution. The organization noted that while early research suggests folate levels during pregnancy may play a role in autism risk, the evidence is still preliminary.

Folate, a B vitamin critical for brain and spinal development, has long been a cornerstone of prenatal care. Women are routinely advised to take folic acid supplements to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

The upcoming HHS report suggests that folinic acid (leucovorin), a specific form of folate, could reduce autism symptoms in some children. This idea is based on research showing that some people with autism may have metabolic differences that limit folate transport to the brain. Leucovorin appears to bypass that barrier.

Still, the scientific community remains cautious. The Autism Science Foundation points out that only four small studies have linked low maternal folate to higher autism risk, and evidence that leucovorin can treat autism is scant. “More research is needed before these findings can be considered clinically meaningful,” the group said.

What 25 Years of CDC Data In Autism Shows?

While political battles unfold, the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network provides a clearer, evidence-based picture of autism in America. Since 2000, the CDC has tracked prevalence among 8-year-olds, offering the most comprehensive long-term data available.

In April 2024, the CDC reported that 1 in 31 U.S. children had autism by age 8—up from 1 in 150 in the year 2000. Boys remain far more likely to be diagnosed than girls, at a ratio of 3.5 to 1. Here’s how the numbers have shifted:

• 2000 (birth year 1992): 1 in 150
• 2006 (birth year 1998): 1 in 110
• 2012 (birth year 2004): 1 in 69
• 2018 (birth year 2010): 1 in 44
• 2022 (birth year 2014): 1 in 31

These numbers suggest not only a rise in autism prevalence but also improvements in diagnosis and awareness. Experts caution that higher rates don’t necessarily mean autism itself is more common but that detection has improved, especially among girls and children of color who were historically underdiagnosed.

Putting Autism in Context Before The Report Release

Compared to other pediatric conditions, autism is far more prevalent than childhood cancer, which affects about 1 in 285 children before age 20. However, autism remains less common than chronic pediatric diseases like asthma, diabetes, or obesity, which impact nearly 30% of U.S. children.

What makes autism unique is that it is not a disease with a single cause or cure but a neurodevelopmental condition shaped by complex interactions of genetics, environment, and biology. Most experts agree there is no single “cause” of autism—contrary to RFK Jr.’s promise to “get to the bottom” of it.

Health experts warn that when public officials spotlight controversial or unproven theories, they risk undermining trust in established medical guidance. For pregnant women, the danger is clear- avoiding safe, recommended treatments like acetaminophen or folate supplements could put both mother and baby at risk.

Dr. Sarah Lister, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist not involved in the HHS report, summarized the concern: “We should be empowering women with facts, not fear. Linking autism to Tylenol without strong evidence can harm maternal health more than it helps.”

As the debate over Tylenol, folate, and autism unfolds, one fact stands unchallenged: autism diagnoses are rising, and the US now has a quarter century of data to prove it. But science points away from simple answers. Autism is a complex condition with many contributing factors—none of which can be reduced to a single pill or vitamin.

The challenge going forward is not just understanding autism but ensuring that families receive evidence-based care, free from politics and misinformation.

Diabetes patients rely upon metformin for controlling their blood sugar and insulin levels. Now, a new study claims that this common diabetes drug has many other health benefits to offer, and these can mimic the benefits of 'intense workouts.' The diabetes drug metformin is used by millions around the world who are struggling with this lifestyle disorder—it releases weight-regulating compounds in the body, the same ones that are released during workouts in inactive people. American scientists found that the drug can have a positive impact on a sedentary lifestyle—find out how.

What is metformin?

Metformin is the most common drug for the management of type 2 diabetes. It helps insulin work better, thereby regulating blood sugar spikes. This drug is usually prescribed when diet and workouts alone are not sufficient for weight management. According to a study by experts at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, metformin may replicate the benefits of workouts in people who follow a sedentary, inactive lifestyle. In the case of prostate cancer patients, men who do not work out because of their treatment benefited from metformin use, as the drug raises levels of a molecule that supports weight loss. In the case of patients who cannot work out properly, the effect can be game-changing.

Are workouts necessary during cancer treatment?

Exercising is one of the best ways to avoid obesity and other metabolic disorders. It is also one of the best ways to stay strong during cancer treatment, as it regulates weight, heart health, and blood sugar. This helps cancer patients feel stronger even during treatment and recovery. However, many cancer patients cannot work out regularly because of hormone therapy-related fatigue. Metformin use, in this case, can prove helpful for patients.

How does metformin mimic the benefits of workouts?

Exercising benefits the body by releasing hormones such as oxytocin and dopamine. Researchers from the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center explored whether these could be triggered without exercise and whether metformin could do that. They noted that while the drug cannot fully replace workouts as part of a healthy routine, there is a need to understand how a widely used drug can be beneficial for metabolic health during prostate cancer treatment.

N-lactoyl-phenylalanine, or Lac-Phe, is a molecule that spikes after an intense workout session, and it also regulates appetite and calorie burning. Scientists found that Lac-Phe levels were higher in metformin users even when they were not working out. The Sylvester team noted that prostate cancer patients often struggle with poor blood sugar control, heart disease risk, and weight gain due to hormone therapy. They then took blood samples from 29 people and found that the patients who took metformin had similar Lac-Phe levels to people who were engaged in strenuous workouts. This was noted even when the patients were not exercising. However, metformin did not have an impact on prostate tumours.

The study was published in the EMBO Molecular Medicine journal.

In an alarming incident, more than 330 children in Pakistan have contracted HIV due to reuse of syringes in a hospital in Pakistan’s Punjab, according to a report.

The report, based on an undercover investigation by BBC News, highlighted blatant infection control failures and unsafe medical practices at THQ Hospital Taunsa in Pakistan.

The failures captured on camera, filmed over 32 hours inside THQ Taunsa Hospital in late 2025, showcase persistent unsafe practices, including the reuse of syringes on multi-dose vials, that have infected more than 330 children with HIV since late 2024.

The footage captured multiple violations of basic hygiene protocols, including the staff reusing syringes on multi-dose medicine vials, which increases the risk of contaminating entire batches of medication. In several instances, the same vial was then used to treat different children, the report said.

Other scenes captured included poor sanitation conditions, such as open vials, used needles left on countertops, and improper disposal of medical waste; staff administering injections without sterile gloves, further increasing the risk of cross-contamination.

Pakistan HIV Cases: Previous Outbreak In Southern Sindh

The incident in Taunsa is not the first. In 2019, media reports cited nearly 1,000 children testing positive for HIV due to the reuse of needles in southern Sindh province.

“Pakistan has experienced a series of HIV outbreaks over the past two decades, but we’ve never before seen this many young children infected or so many health facilities involved," Dr Fatima Mir from the Aga Khan University in Pakistan, told The Guardian. She was the lead author of the paper published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases, which also reported the cases.

“Use of syringes and needles is widespread, and Pakistan has one of the highest rates of unsafe injections in the world. Health practitioners need to use intravenous treatment only when necessary, use needles only once, and screen blood for infections before using it for transfusions,” she added.

The India Case: Thalassemic Children Infected With HIV

In 2025, a dozen children undergoing blood transfusions for thalassemia contracted HIV in two different incidents in India's Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, highlighting “systemic lapses in blood bank regulations”.

At least six children were found HIV positive at Satna district hospital in Madhya Pradesh, allegedly due to contaminated blood transfusions at the district hospital during treatment for thalassemia.

The children affected include five boys aged under 11 and a nine-year-old girl who have been undergoing blood transfusions at the hospital.

Another six children with thalassemia reportedly contracted HIV from contaminated blood transfusions at a government hospital in the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.

Safe Injection Practices: What Is Recommended

The World Health Organization (WHO) mandates the use of single-use, safety-engineered syringes—specifically auto-disable (AD) or reuse-prevention (RUP) devices—to prevent disease transmission and needle-stick injuries.

These devices automatically lock or break after one use and are essential for immunization and medication administration.

The US CDC recommends using single-dose vials whenever possible, over multiple-dose vials, especially when medications will be administered to multiple patients.

Do not administer medications from a syringe to multiple patients, even if the needle or cannula on the syringe is changed.

The US Food and Drug Administration has recalled China-made over-the-counter cough drops and throat lozenges sold across the country over potential safety concerns.

The FDA in a notice stated that Xiamen Kang Zhongyuan Biotechnology from Xiamen in China, has issued a voluntary recall of numerous products based on March 20, 2026.

The regulator noted that the recall was started following the FDA’s recommendation based on observations noted during an August 15, 2025, inspection of the manufacturing facility that “may bear on product quality.”

The FDA classified the recall as Class II on April 10, 2026. Class II recalls apply to products that can cause “temporary or medically reversible” health problems.

While the FDA did not specify how many cough drops were under the recall, the recalled products include:

• Exchange Select (manufactured for Your Military Exchanges): 30-count bag of honey lemon and menthol flavored cough drops
• Caring Mill (distributed by FSA Store, Inc): 90-count bags of cherry cough drops
• Discount Drug Mart Food Market: 30-count bags of honey lemon cough drops
• MGC Health (distributed by Medical Group Care): 25-count and 30-count bags of sugar-free honey lemon cough drops and 80-count bags of honey lemon cough drops
• QC Quality Choice (distributed by CDMA, Inc): 25-count bags of black cherry sugar-free and regular cough drops; 25-count bags of sugar-free and regular honey lemon cough drops; 30-count bags of creamy strawberry throat soothing drops; 30-count bags of menthol cough drops; and 30-count bags of vanilla honey cough drops.

Safe Alternatives For Cough Drops

Coughs are often caused by viral infections, allergies, or environmental irritants such as dust or smoke.

Also read: Eye Drops: US FDA Recalls Over 3 Million Products Over Safety Concerns

Dr. Umashankar Sharma, Medical In-charge (B.N.Y.S), Kailash Institute of Naturopathy, Ayurveda & Yoga, recommends several safe home remedies that can ease both adults' and children’s discomfort naturally.

“Warm liquids like soups, clear broths, or mild herbal teas, such as chamomile, help keep the throat moist and reduce irritation. Honey is a great natural option for children over one year; half to one teaspoon before bedtime can help calm night-time coughing,” he said.

He also suggests using a cool-mist humidifier in the room to add moisture to the air, which can loosen mucus and ease breathing. Saline nasal drops or a short steam session in a warm shower can also help relieve congestion.

Ensuring plenty of rest and hydration with water or warm drinks is essential. Slightly elevating the head with an extra pillow at night can reduce coughing while sleeping.

These remedies are generally safe and effective. However, if the cough persists for more than two weeks, or if the individual experiences high fever, wheezing, or difficulty breathing, it’s important to consult a doctor to rule out more serious conditions.

Home Remedies For Sore Throat

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, throat pain linked to an upper respiratory infection usually improves within about a week. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen can help ease discomfort and may be more effective than acetaminophen because they reduce both pain and inflammation.

Alongside medication, certain home remedies may also provide relief. Options worth trying include saltwater gargle, honey and herbal tea, or other hot beverages such as soups.