Acetaminophen Use and the Symptoms of Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis and Eczema in Children

Allergic diseases are frequent in children and their prevalence and severity deffer in thedifferent regions of the world. a number of studies have been performed to determine thefactors which are effective in the incidence of these diseases. one of the drugs that might have arole in incidence or intensity of the symptoms of allergic diseases is acetaminophen.in our survey conducted with standardized method (international study of asthma andallergies in childhood), 3000 children 6-7 years old and 3000 teenagers 13-14 years old werequestioned regarding asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema.the prevalence of ever wheezing in the children of 6-7 years old who took acetaminophen inthe first year of their life was 11.3%, which is more than other group (odds ratio=1.54, 95%confidence interval: 1-2.38, p=0.049) and the prevalence of ever wheezing in older age groupwho have taken acetaminophen at least once in a month was 25.1% which is more than thosetaken less acetaminophen (or=1.7, 95%ci=1.43-2.04, p=0.000). moreover taking moreacetaminophen during past 12 months led to more prevalence of night dry coughs and thesymptoms of rhinitis in children 6-7 years old and eczema and rhinitis symptoms in the 13-14years old.our findings suggest that taking more acetaminophen may be assossiated with increasingallergic symptoms in children.