Anna Fox

When the days are hot and humid, you kind of just want to step outside with a cold glass of beverage and enjoy a gentle breeze from your outdoor fan.

Acetaminophen, commonly known by the brand name Tylenol, is one of the most frequently used pain relievers during pregnancy. For decades, it has been recommended by doctors as the safest option for treating fever and mild to moderate pain in expectant mothers. Recent research has prompted renewed public discussion about its use and potential risks.

An infant went to the doctor for a checkup to include her first vaccines. The vaccines were not in the exam room, so the doctor left to retrieve them. While the doctor was out of the room, the infant had a seizure while in her mother's arms. Had the vaccines been ready in the room from the beginning, the vaccines may have been administered moments before the infant's first seizure. The child's parents likely would have at least wondered if the vaccine caused the seizure, if not completely attributed the seizure to the vaccine. This would likely have been reported, as it should be, on the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which collects “unverified reports of adverse events following immunizations.”