Reception during pregnancy of paracetamol (acetaminophen), which is sold in pharmacies under the trademarks of Panadol, Tylenol and Efferalgan, does not increase the risk of childhood asthma.

The same applies to the intake of paracetamol in young children.

These are the results of the latest study conducted in Australia.

Anxiety about a possible relationship between paracetamol and asthma arose a long time ago. But the authors of the latter work argue that respiratory infections carried by a child at an early age play a much more important role in the development of pediatric asthma. In their opinion, today there is no need to change the existing recommendations concerning the use of paracetamol in pregnant women and children.

The study was led by Dr. Adrian Lowe of Melbourne University. His team analyzed data from 11 studies from different years that examined the relationship between paracetamol during pregnancy and in the early years of a child with an increased risk of childhood asthma.

While some studies have found a link between paracetamol and pediatric asthma, it was very weak, and the authors of these studies did not take into account the effect of respiratory infections.

The results of the analysis suggest that paracetamol is not a risk factor for childhood asthma. The role of respiratory infections, which the child suffers in the first years of life, is what scientists should pay attention to.

"Data on the association between the use of acetaminophen at an early age and asthma are often exaggerated, and the data available today is not enough to make any changes to the clinical guidelines," concluded Dr. Leve's group.

medbe. en.