Paracetamol and Asthma?

There has been a fair bit of interest over the last two years in a possible link between the use of paracetamol in young children and the later development of asthma or allergies.  It is important to note that as yet no such link has been demonstrated.  Several studies have shown that children who receive paracetamol are more likely to get asthma but there are many more plausible explanations for this than the medication.  A recent observational study in Christchurch studied 505 children under 18 months of whom 90% had received paracetamol.  This study showed that the children who did not have paracetamol were three times less likely to report allergies and half as likely to have asthma.  This is such a dramatic change that it is extremely unlikely that paracetamol alone is responisble for the findings.  Paracetamol has been tested in much larger scale trials in children and has not been found to be associated with a significant increase in allergy or illness (though these findings were not actively sought, it is almost inconceivable that a doubling of wheeze symptoms would not be noticed)  The very small number who had not received paracetamol also makes the study valueless in terms of comparison.

For the time being, we feel that there is insufficient evidence to change our current advice that paracetamol is safe to use in children.  This is also the opinion of Medsafe, who monitor medication in New Zealand.  Don't feel too bad if you prefer not to use paracetamol though - your child is unlikely to come to harm from not having it either.

Hopefully a larger scale trial will be arranged soon to put the matter to rest.