Acetaminophen use linked to asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in adolescents

January 01, 0001

Acetaminophen use linked to asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in adolescents

There is epidemiological evidence that the use of acetaminophen may increase the risk of developing asthma. The aim of the researchers from New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malta and Germany was to investigate the risk of asthma and other allergic disorders associated with the current use of acetaminophen in 13 to 14 year old children in different populations worldwide. As part of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase Three, 13 to 14 year old children completed written and video questionnaires, obtaining data on current symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema, and a written environmental questionnaire obtaining data on putative risk factors including acetaminophen use in the past 12 months. A total of 322,959 adolescent children from 113 centres in 50 countries participated.

The recent use of acetaminophen was associated with an exposure-dependent increased risk of current asthma symptoms (OR 1.43 and 2.51 for medium and high versus no use respectively). Acetaminophen use was also associated with an exposure-dependent increased risk of current symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema.

The researchers concluded: "Acetaminophen use may represent an important risk factor for the development and/or maintenance of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in adolescent children."

Acetaminophen is also known as paracetamol. This data should not cause a swing to aspirin and NSAIDs. Do young people with or developing these problems take acetaminophen for symptoms?

For the full abstract, click here.

Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med published online 13 August 2010 © 2010 American Thoracic Society
Acetaminophen Use and Risk of Asthma, Rhinoconjunctivitis and Eczema in Adolescents: ISAAC Phase Three. Richard W Beasley, Tadd O Clayto, Julian Crane and the ISAAC Phase Three Study Group. Correspondence to Richard Beasley: [email protected]

Category: R. Respiratory. Keywords: acetaminophen, asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, eczema, written and video questionnaires, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, Melbourne, Australia. Posted on Global Family Doctor 3 September 2010

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.