(In the weekly Health Matters newsletter, Athira Elssa Johnson writes about getting to good health, and staying there. You can subscribe here to get the newsletter in your inbox.)
Before we look at the latest developments in infectious disease outbreaks, there’s some reassuring news for expectant parents about a much‑discussed topic in prenatal care. Over the past few years, social media posts and high‑profile comments have raised concerns that taking paracetamol during pregnancy might increase the risk of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions in children. However, clinicians and public health authorities around the world have consistently pointed out that these claims were not supported by robust evidence and did not reflect mainstream medical guidance.
A new systematic review and meta‑analysis published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health, highlighted by Ramya Kannan, provides clarity: it combined data from dozens of high‑quality studies and used rigorous methods such as sibling comparisons to control for genetic and familial factors, ultimately finding no credible evidence that paracetamol use during pregnancy increases the risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability when used as directed.
Major medical organisations and regulators, including those in the U.K. and globally, reaffirm that paracetamol remains the recommended first‑line option for managing pain and fever in pregnancy. Untreated fever and significant pain during pregnancy can themselves pose risks to both the parent and the developing foetus, underscoring why safe symptom relief is an important part of clinical care
Meanwhile, infectious diseases continue to demand our attention. In West Bengal, the situation has escalated, with two nurses testing positive for the Nipah virus and currently in critical condition, according to Shrabana Chatterjee. Authorities are conducting extensive contact tracing to identify anyone who may have been exposed, in an effort to contain the virus before it spreads further. Environmental risks and climate-linked health pressures are continuing to compound these challenges. Reports highlight that Delhi’s air quality remains very poor to severe even as minimum temperatures fluctuate, stressing the intersection of seasonal changes and chronic exposure to pollutants.
While no fresh Nipah cases have been reported in Tripura, Tamil Nadu has instructed health officers to strengthen surveillance for acute encephalitis syndrome.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that diarrhoea cases continue to emerge in Indore, with water contamination identified as the primary cause. Five new cases have been detected, while the findings of the ‘death audit’ report remain unclear. Sudheer Kumar Shukla draws attention to toxic taps in one of India’s cleanest cities, showing how infrastructure failures can exacerbate disease burden and threaten population health. Mehul Malpani reports that Madhya Pradesh’s Neemuch district is also tracking deaths linked to Guillain-Barré Syndrome, highlighting how gaps in disease surveillance can have severe consequences.
At the same time, Serena Josephine M. notes progress in malaria elimination in Tamil Nadu, with 33 districts reporting zero indigenous cases — a rare success story in vector-borne disease control.
Demographic change and the shifting burden of non-communicable diseases also remain central concerns. Gunjan Singh examines China’s ageing population, while Ojaswi Phal Desai and Dr. Parth Sharma highlight the urgent need for palliative care policy reforms in light of India’s changing demographics.Bindu Shajan Perappadan discussed WHO’s call for stronger taxes on sugary drinks and alcohol, emphasising fiscal interventions as tools to mitigate non-communicable disease risk.
Scientific research continues to expand our understanding of human health — one study showed that even small improvements in physical activity are linked to longer life and fewer deaths, while another points to an oestrogen-linked pathway that may help explain why women experience greater gut sensitivity. Afshan Yasmeen covers a NIMHANS study proposing a model for early protein deposit formation in Parkinson’s disease, with potential implications for early interventions. Vasudevan Mukunth writes on research indicating that spaceflight can affect immune genes and brain structure, and Shilpa Elizabeth reports on a new AI tool to predict how shapeshifting proteins interact within cells.
Translating these findings into patient care, experts provide guidance on everyday and complex health issues. Dr. Mary Kurien, Dr. Vikram M., Sadhana Chandrababu, and Dr. Yogeshwari Hiremath explain how gadgets can induce hearing loss and how to use them safely. Dr. C. Umesha offers strategies for managing arthritis pain during colder months, while Dr. E. Rabindranath and Dr. Jacob Raja A.S. outline ways to understand and prevent Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) burn.
Nutrition and reproductive health are also in focus: Dr. Mamen Chandy and Dr. Mathumithra T. highlight the importance of iron in the diet, Dr. Vaishnavi V.L. explains why pregnancy increases the risk of urinary tract infections and how to prevent them while Dr. Abraham Peedicayil, Dr. Akilasree P.B., and Dr. Jeyasheela Kamaraj offer guidance on abnormal uterine bleeding,
Regulatory and systemic issues continue to shape public health outcomes. In Tamil Nadu, the Drugs Control Directorate issued alerts after syrup was found adulterated with ethylene glycol, and other spurious anti-epileptic drugs falsely branded as genuine were seized.
As our tail piece this week, our latest Health Wrap series episode explores outbreak responses, environmental health pressures, and recent developments in weight-loss drug research.
Our explainers this week :
I write on puberphonia —when the voice does not change after puberty
Dr. Sonia Mary Kurian and Dr. Nagarajan V. advise on raising a healthy child,
Dr. Esha R. Shanbhag clarifies the role of HPV vaccination in cervical cancer prevention,
Geetha Srimathi writes how movement is medicine through the work of Priti Chawla.
Zubeda Hamid writes on Temporomandibular joint disorders or TMDs
Dr. Abhijit Joshi answers common questions about coronary angioplasty and bypass surgery.
Also listen to this week’s infocus podcast by Devyanshi Bihani on challenges in cadaver organ donation
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