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Dr. Shapiro completed his undergraduate education at UC San Diego, earning a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, and a B.A. in Political Science. He furthered his education at UCLA where he earned a Masters Degree in Public…
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Acetaminophen and Asthma: Is There a Link?
A new study just published in the medical journal Lancet will be receiving a world-wide media blitz these next few days as it prompts concerns of a link between infantile use of paracetamol (known as acetaminophen in the U.S.) with an increased risk of developing asthma and eczema in children 6 to 7 years of age. The researchers of this study analyzed data from over 200,000 children covering 31 countries and found nearly a 50% increased risk of asthma in those who were exposed to paracetamol as an infant when compared to infants who had never taken the medication. Furthermore, other results found when paracetamol was used in the previous 12 months (but less than once a month), there followed a 61% greater risk of asthma. Now what I find interesting is that in 2001, there was a large cross sectional study performed (including 140,000 participants from 22 countries worldwide) which was published in the European Respiratory Journal that described a link between paracetamol use with an increased risk of asthma. Granted, no causal association was found. But my question is why has there not been greater inquiry into this association over the past few years? The authors of the current study do provide a possible theory as to why this occurrence exists (related to antioxidant levels in the body), but what needs to be done is more definitive studies to determine whether there is a causal association. For now, until definitive research defines this causal association, I will continue to use acetaminophen selectively in my infants...with significant pain and/or high temperature. Dr. Jeremy
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And Rose, I gave my baby paracetamol too. If you don't know, though, you can't be defined as a bad parent.
if linked I would be a bad mother;reason I give my kids infant and children's meds containing acetaminophen.
Rose