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19/09/2008
Medical Study Links Paracetamol To Rise In Asthma
A study has found the common painkiller paracetamol may be linked to the development of asthma in children.
Scientists have found that taking the drug once a month more than tripled the chances of asthma attacks in six and seven-year-olds. Although researchers do not know if paracetamol directly increases the risk, or if there are other underlying factors, data on more than 200,000 children found strong links between the painkiller and the development of asthma.
It also has associations with increased risk of hayfever and eczema.
The study - which spanned 73 centres in 31 countries - is part of a worldwide investigation called the 'International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood' (ISAAC).
The results of the study found "medium use" of paracetamol among older children - taking the drug at least once a year - increased the symptoms of asthma by 61%, while taking it at least once a month ("high use") increased the symptoms risk 3.23 times.
The report - published in today's issue of The Lancet - also found giving paracetamol in the first year of a child's life increased the risk of later asthma symptoms in six and seven year old's by 46%.
Asthma clinical professor Richard Beasley of the Medical research Institute of New Zealand, said the theory that the painkiller may be a risk factor for asthma has been around for around 10 years.
He said: "There certainly was a case that needed to be answered. One of the risk factors we looked at was paracetamol."
He added: "We stress the findings do not constitute a reason to stop using paracetamol in childhood.
"However the findings do lend support to the current guidelines of the World Health Organization, which recommended that paracetamol should be reserved for times when they have a fever and are in obvious discomfort or pain."
(JM)
Scientists have found that taking the drug once a month more than tripled the chances of asthma attacks in six and seven-year-olds. Although researchers do not know if paracetamol directly increases the risk, or if there are other underlying factors, data on more than 200,000 children found strong links between the painkiller and the development of asthma.
It also has associations with increased risk of hayfever and eczema.
The study - which spanned 73 centres in 31 countries - is part of a worldwide investigation called the 'International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood' (ISAAC).
The results of the study found "medium use" of paracetamol among older children - taking the drug at least once a year - increased the symptoms of asthma by 61%, while taking it at least once a month ("high use") increased the symptoms risk 3.23 times.
The report - published in today's issue of The Lancet - also found giving paracetamol in the first year of a child's life increased the risk of later asthma symptoms in six and seven year old's by 46%.
Asthma clinical professor Richard Beasley of the Medical research Institute of New Zealand, said the theory that the painkiller may be a risk factor for asthma has been around for around 10 years.
He said: "There certainly was a case that needed to be answered. One of the risk factors we looked at was paracetamol."
He added: "We stress the findings do not constitute a reason to stop using paracetamol in childhood.
"However the findings do lend support to the current guidelines of the World Health Organization, which recommended that paracetamol should be reserved for times when they have a fever and are in obvious discomfort or pain."
(JM)
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