Teenagers who take acetaminophen even once a month are more than twice as likely to develop symptoms of asthma or eczema, reports the online edition of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Scientists from the New Zealand Institute of Medical Research have come to such conclusions after analyzing the data collected from over 300 people. 13- and 14-year-olds from 50 countries. They were asked how often they took paracetamol (aka acetaminophen) and about symptoms typical of asthma, eczema, or atopic dermatitis (AD), and other allergic conditions.
It turned out that there was a clear link between paracetamol use and the risk of these conditions. Children who used the drug at least once a year were 43 percent. more likely to develop asthma than their peers who are not taking it at all. And those who took paracetamol at least once a month had a 250 percent higher risk. The risk of allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis was 38% higher, respectively. and 240 percent, and the risk of eczema – by 31 percent. and 99 percent
Recently, more and more studies have appeared suggesting that acetaminophen may have an influence on the risk of asthma. For example, long-term studies in a small population of Ethiopia have found a temporal association between paracetamol use and the risk of developing asthma or allergy symptoms. This work also appeared online on the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Earlier in the USA, observations were also made in a group of 13- and 14-year-olds with asthma who were taking paracetamol or ibuprofen due to fever. It turned out that children with respiratory disease were more likely to see a doctor with an asthma attack after paracetamol.
According to the researchers, there are many biological reasons that could explain the association of this drug with a higher risk of asthma and allergy symptoms. For example, it is known that it can increase the activity of immune cells involved in an allergic reaction, as well as suppress the immune system’s response to rhinovirus infection, which often exacerbates the course of asthma in children.
As emphasized by the authors of the latest work, in order to finally confirm the causal relationship between paracetamol consumption and asthma, specially planned studies are necessary. They will also help guide the use of antipyretic drugs in children, pregnant and other adults. (PAP)