Effects of acetaminophen consumption in asthmatic children

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 doseresponse
association 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