Jandacva.ge
10th February 2016 – Asthma experts say there is no need to panic after a new study appears to strengthen a link between asthma and pregnant women and babies being exposed to paracetamol.
Researchers in Norway and the UK say their findings could have important implications for public health since paracetamol is currently recommended as a painkiller for pregnant women and infants.
The study in the International Journal of Epidemiology relied on data from a health study of Norwegian mothers and their children.
Paracetamol for pain, fever and flu
The researchers from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, the University of Norway and the University of Bristol examined the records of 95,200 mothers and 114,500 children. They checked to see if there were any links between a number of health conditions during pregnancy, including asthma, and whether the mums-to-be had taken paracetamol when they were expecting.
The health outcomes of the children were examined when they were 3 and 7 years old. This revealed that 5.7% of the children had asthma when they were 3, and 5.1% had asthma when they were aged 7.
The researchers found a 13% higher risk of children having asthma when they were 3 because of exposure to paracetamol when their mother was pregnant.
This association was strongest when their mother had used paracetamol for more than one of the most common symptoms where it is usually taken in pregnancy:pain, fever and flu.
Higher risk
Taking paracetamol as an infant was associated with a 29% higher risk of developing asthma by the age of 7, the researchers say.
The authors of the study say that although research has previously taken place into paracetamol and asthma, their study was able to discount other common pregnancy complaints that might have had a bearing on asthma development.
However, the team say their findings do not warrant any changes to the current recommendations regarding paracetamol use by pregnant women.
‘No need to panic’
Commenting on the findings in a statement, Dr Samantha Walker, director of research and policy at Asthma UK, says: “Although the results from the study show that maternal exposure to paracetamol before birth and during the first six months of the child’s life increases the risk of a child developing asthma, more research is needed to better understand this relationship.
“If you are pregnant or trying for a baby you shouldn’t panic; as the report’s author states, no new guidance is required on the use of paracetamol.”
Asthma UK recommends that anyone concerned about the issue should contact their GP or the charity’s asthma nurses for advice.
