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Effects of Acetaminophen consumption in asthmatic children
S Oshnouei1, Sh Salarilak, A Khalkhali
1MSc student of Epidemiology, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia Medical University, Iran.
Insights
Acetaminophen use in children aged 2-8 years is linked to an increased risk of asthma. Further research is needed to establish clear guidelines for its use, especially for fever management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Acetaminophen (paracetamol) use has been anecdotally linked to rising asthma rates.
- The association between acetaminophen exposure and childhood asthma requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between acetaminophen exposure and the risk of developing childhood asthma.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted in Urmia, Iran, involving 207 asthmatic children (cases) and 414 non-asthmatic children (controls) aged 2-8 years.
- Cases and controls were matched for age and gender.
- Parental questionnaires collected data on acetaminophen exposure.
Main Results:
- Acetaminophen use in the first year of life showed no significant association with asthma risk (p=0.19).
- However, acetaminophen exposure in children aged 2-8 years was significantly associated with an increased risk of asthma (p<0.001).
- A dose-response relationship was observed, with higher frequency of acetaminophen use correlating with greater asthma risk (ORs ranging from 3.8 to 4.2).
Conclusions:
- Acetaminophen consumption increases the risk of asthma in children aged 2-8 years.
- More robust evidence is needed to inform guidelines on reducing acetaminophen use for fever and post-vaccination management.
Background:
Acetaminophen exposure might be associated with increasing risk of asthma prevalence and other atopic disorders over recent decades. The present study aimed to investigate the association between acetaminophen exposure and the risk of developing childhood asthma.
Methods:
A case - control study was undertaken between March and September 2010 in Urmia district north west of Iran. Subjects were children aged between 2 - 8 years old. Cases were asthmatic children diagnosed based on GINA criteria (n=207) and controls were children without asthma symptoms (n=414) using 1:2 sampling method. Cases and controls were matched for age and gender. Clinical data including Acetaminophen exposure was collected by a questionnaire which completed by interviewing with parents/ guardians.
Results:
Using Acetaminophen during the first year of life had no any effect on the risk of asthma (p=0.19), but amongst 2-8 years old children, this association was observed (p<0.001). There was also a doseresponseassociation between Acetaminophen consumption and risk of asthma (OR: 3.8; 95% CI; 2.15 6.59 for once per 2 to 3 month and OR: 4.2; 2.50 - 7.3 for at least one per month).
Conclusions:
Using Acetaminophen increases risk of asthma among 2 - 8 years old children. However stronger evidences are required to design evidence-based guidelines to reduce acetaminophen consumption following post - vaccination and other febrile disorders.
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