The use of acetaminophen, the recommended pain pill for children, has been proposed as one of the reasons for the increase number of children with asthma. What most studies found is that acetaminophen doesn't cause asthma. Rather, it makes already existing asthma worse.
If a child with no history of asthma takes acetaminophen, and then has his or her first asthma attack, it's easy to think there's a cause and effect relation. A better explanation may be that the acetaminophen just "unmasked" a pre-existing condition.
The final answer isn't in yet - we don't know if acetaminophen causes asthma or just makes pre-existing asthma worse. However, if your child has asthma, you should discuss with your doctor which analgesic is best - acetaminophen, aspirin (also known to make asthma worse), or ibuprofen.
Consultant, 06/06
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