TORONTO – Researchers have found a possible link between the use of acetaminophen by children and a greatly increased risk of asthma, allergies and eczema. There is no indication at this time that the link is actually causative, but the high rates of increased risk shown in the study are likely to give any parent pause.

The study used a questionnaire to obtain information from parents of children of ages 6 to 7. Parents were asked if their infants were given acetaminophen (also known by the brand Tylenol) in any form in their first year. The questionnaire also asked about asthma and other allergic symptoms when the child was older. The results showed that infants who got acetaminophen in their first year were 46 per cent more likely to develop asthma by 6 or 7, a staggering increase in their overall risk. In addition, acetaminophen use in that first 12 months was also associated with increased chance of nasal allergies to 48 per cent and eczema to 35 per cent. Risk increased the most among children who were treated with acetaminophen most frequently.

Richard Beasley of the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand led the international study that reviewed data on 200,000 children in 31 countries. Beasley maintains that acetaminophen is still the safest drug to treat pain and fever in a child. “What we don’t want is people changing from acetaminophen to Aspirin,” said Beasley. Aspirin use is linked to the rare but sometimes fatal Reye’s syndrome.

Acetaminophen has become the doctor-recommended standard for pain and fever. At the same time as tylenol has taken over the market, asthma rates have also been skyrocketing, primarily in developed countries. There has been speculation in the medical research community regarding a link between the two. As a result, this initial study was done.

A second study is now being recommended which will use a randomized trial approach where some infants receive acetaminophen while others receive a placebo. These infants would then be followed for a number of years through childhood to see if the groups have different rates of disease development.

Beasley said, “This is an issue that needs to be looked at fairly urgently.”

Source: Globe and Mail