A pain relieving and fever reducing drug acetaminophen may put infants at a greater risk of asthma, according to a new study.
A team of researchers looked at more than 300 Danish children and found more frequent use of acetaminophen or Tylenol in infancy increasing the risks of asthma in preschool days. Senior researcher Hans Bisgaard, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Copenhagen and colleagues followed participants in the survey from birth to age seven.
Mothers of these children, themselves suffered from asthma. At the end of the study, researchers found 19 percent of the participants exhibiting symptoms similar to asthma- wheezing, breathlessness and coughing, Reuters Health reported. Each additional dose and day of the medication during the first year was found increasing the risks by 28 percent.
However, by age seven, the association was found less prominent and no additional risks were posed by acetaminophen use. Other factors like parental smoking, body weight and pneumonia and bronchitis were not found adding to the occurrence. Concerned by the findings, the researchers recommend parents to give acetaminophen only during emergency situations.
"We would like to stress that the use of this drug indeed is beneficial in the appropriate circumstances," said Bisgaard.
Findings of the study have been published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
According to the American Lung Association, nearly 7.1 million children below 18 years are affected by asthma, one of the most common chronic disorders in childhood.
Following are some factors that trigger asthma, provided by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America:
* Respiratory infections like flu or cold
* Exercise
* Strong emotions like excitement or stress
* Cigarette smoke
* Sudden changes in the weather
* Allergens in the air like pollens, dust or molds
* Air pollutants
