Paracetamol linked to asthma
Paracetamol given to babies is linked to global rise in asthma.
By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor, The Independent. Friday, 19 September 2008
The global rise in asthma over the past 50 years, which has mystified doctors for decades, may be linked to the growing use of paracetamol, researchers suggest today.
A major international study, involving more than 200,000 children in 31 countries, has found those treated with paracetamol in the first year of life had a 46 per cent increased risk of developing asthma by the age of seven.
The risk was up to three times higher among children who were the heaviest users of the drug, indicating a strong dose-dependent link. The study, published in The Lancet, adds to a growing body of evidence linking the painkiller with the disabling lung condition. Eczema and rhinitis were also increased. Previous research has linked asthma with exposure to paracetamol in the womb, infancy, childhood and adulthood.
A study by the Global Allergy and Asthma Network of 1,000 people, half of whom had asthma, found the incidence of the condition was increased threefold in people who used the drug weekly. The results are published in the European Respiratory Journal.
Paracetamol came into widespread use in the 1950s and sales have grown rapidly since. In the UK, 580 million tablets were sold in 2001-02. Paracetamol replaced aspirin as the painkiller of choice in children because of concerns about Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal condition linked with aspirin.
The growth of the asthma epidemic started in the 1950s and the numbers affected in the UK approximately doubled every 14 years until the 1990s. There are around five million people with the condition in the UK. In 2005, more than 70,000 people were admitted to hospital with asthma attacks and 1,318 died.
disillusioned.. i'd suggest you follow your own advice, and read all related material, before deciding that that ONE line is the most significant.
An article in a newspaper is not something that you can base medical decisions upon.
The findings of the study have concluded that there is a STRONG POSSIBILITY that there is a LINK between Paracetamol and Asthma, and that it is WORTH INVESTIGATING.
i'm sorry if i came on a bit too strong. must be coz i've taken a couple of paracetamols in the morning :\
and i'm still sticking with rubbish :)
....First of all, it clearly states that it is a MAJOR study, i.e.
"A major international study, involving more than 200,000 children in 31 countries, has found those treated with paracetamol in the first year of life had a 46 per cent increased risk of developing asthma by the age of seven."
Secondly, it is one of many different studies, that have come up with the same conclusions. Check the internet if you don't believe me.
Thirdly, pharmaceutical and health related sites are not going to admit any liability, and will try and play it down.
Lastly, rather than just labelling things 'rubbish', I hope I have the maturity to keep and open mind on these things, rather than just push my own views!
its rubbish. Instead of thinking about the increasing air pollution, smog and such that's the PRIMARY cause of asthma, researchers in New Zealand decide to find a new way to spend a million dollars...
Really? Paracetamol is one of the few analgesics that are actually safe for asthmatics!!!
this is an extreme case scenario, and will only create unwanted panic if not read properly.
http://www.pharmweb.net/pwmirror/pwy/paracetamol/pharmwebpicasthma.html
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2008/09September/Pages/Paracetamoldoesitcauseasthma.aspx
Also,
The researchers say the findings do not constitute a reason to stop using paracetamol in childhood as paracetamol remains "the preferred drug to relieve pain and fever in children".
The researchers however stress that their study does not prove paracetamol causes asthma and they say the findings do not constitute a reason to stop using paracetamol in childhood.
Please do a little bit of research on medical articles, before blindly posting them. At least google them, to see if there is a complete version of the article available on a medical journal, and not just what some reporter could cram into his column.