Acetaminophen Intake and Risk of Asthma, Hay Fever and Eczema in Early Adolescence

A positive association between acetaminophen intake and allergic diseases has recentlybeen reported in developed countries with impaired oxidant/antioxidant balance andpromotion of atopy as proposed underlying mechanisms. the aim of the study was toexplore the relationship between acetaminophen intake and asthma, hay fever, and eczema inthe republic of macedonia as a country with acetaminophen intake not physiciancontrolled,high passive smoke exposure and dietary antioxidant intake, and moderately lowprevalence of allergic diseases.self-reported data obtained through the standardized international study of asthma andallergies in childhood phase three written questionnaires of 3026 adolescents aged 13/14years from randomly selected schools in skopje, the capital of macedonia, were used. thefrequency of current acetaminophen intake -both unadjusted and adjusted for confoundingfactors- was correlated to current and ever-diagnosed asthma, hay fever and eczema by oddsratios (or, 95% ci) in binary logistic regression,use of acetaminophen at least once monthly increased the risk of current wheeze(adjusted or 2.04, 1.31-3.20 p = 0,002), asthma 'ever' (adjusted or 2.77, 1.06-7.26p=o.039), current allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (adjusted or 2.95, 1.79-4.88 p=o.ooo) and hayfever 'ever' (adjusted or 2.25, 1.36-3.70 p=o.002). a significant association betweenfrequent acetaminophen intake and atopic eczema and also between infrequentacetaminophen intake and investigated allergic diseases was not established.the findings suggest an increased risk of asthma and hay fever, but not atopic eczemaassociated with frequent acetaminophen use in a developing country.