Acetaminophen Use Linked to Adolescent Asthma

Acetaminophen is used to relieve pain and reduce fevers. It is ingested orally by countless people and has become as commonplace in the home as salt and pepper shakers. Mounting evidence against acetaminophen, however, supports theories that it is linked to asthma, allergies and eczema in all age groups: adults, adolescents, children and infants.

Three-Part Study Examines Health and Acetaminophen Use

Richard Beasley, MD, Director of Medical Research Institute in Wellington, New Zealand, led a group of researchers in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Beasley's is part three of the widespread four-phase study that compared asthma, eczema and rhinitis to the environment, various risk factors and differences in disease management. The first two phases revealed that using acetaminophen may further one's chances of developing asthma. Children between the ages of 13 and 14 from worldwide populations were assessed. In the third phase, the same age group was again studied. More than 322,000 children from 50 countries participated to complete one video and two written questionnaires. They answered a multitude of questions regarding their health and acetaminophen use in the past 12 months. From those answers, researchers determined the following information:

• 73 percent of teens indicated they had used acetaminophen at least once in the previous year.
• 30 percent of the teens stated they had used the drug monthly.
• Annual use of the drug correlated to a 43 percent increase in asthma and 38 percent increase in rhinoconjunctivitis (severe nasal congestion).
• Monthly use of acetaminophen increased chances of developing asthma by 2.5 times and that of rhinoconjunctivities by 2.39 times.
• The risk for eczema increased by 31 and 99 percent respectively.

Dr. Beasley stated, This study has identified that the reported use of acetaminophen in 13 and 14 year old adolescent children was associated with exposure-dependent increased risk of asthma symptoms.

How Acetaminophen Works

Researchers indicate the link between acetaminophen and asthma may be explained by a number of different factors. It is likely that the drug causes systemic inflammation that increases oxygen stress. This in turn may lead to increased TH2 allergic immune responses. Acetaminophen may also suppress the immune system to rhinovirus infections, which are a common cause of severe asthma aggravators in childhood. Yet another explanation is that acetaminophen causes the production of leukotrienes, which promote an inflammatory response in the body. When produced and released in the body, leukotrienes also stimulate white blood cells to travel to the problem area so the body can begin to heal itself. However, when acetaminophen is used to suppress a fever, which is the body's natural defense against harm, disease may ensue. Thus, experts state the drug itself does not directly lead to asthma in such a case, but rather the stifling of the fever. According to doctors, Fever is the body's normal and healthy reaction to infection and other illnesses, both minor and serious. It helps the body fight infection. Fever is a symptom, not a disease. When acetaminophen is used to combat fever, the body's immune system is also suppressed.

Additional Assessments of the Study

Since ISAAC, a number of health-related questions have become key to understanding the link between acetaminophen and asthma. First and foremost is that of fever and how the body operates without it. Many children today cannot attend school or daycare if they have a fever. Similarly, most parents are allowed only a few sick days to care for ailing children. Thus, acetaminophen is administered to manage such a dilemma. According to experts, however, Most parents are unaware of the benefit and purpose of a fever. Perhaps more children are being treated for fevers negating their purpose to make the body stronger. Another question posed by ISAAC is that of avoidable asthma cases within the population as a whole. Dr. Beasley and his colleagues estimate that acetaminophen usage holds a substantial impact on health. According to him, The overall population attributable risks for current symptoms of severe asthma were around 40 percent. Without such asthma cases, health care, hospital services and prescription drugs would likely alter considerably. The third question is whether persons with asthma-like symptoms use acetaminophen more than those without, and thus develop the disease over time, or if acetaminophen does indeed trigger asthma. Medical concern now exists for those with an inherited genetic risk for asthma whose disease has not yet been activated. Experts must wonder if additional environmental risks pose a threat, or if the drug is to blame.

Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/asthma/news/20100813/acetaminophen-teen-asthma-trigger

http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Safety/does_tylenol_cause_asthma_in_teens_081420100248.html

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/197686.php

Comment on HelloLife

What's YOUR take on this? Does it bring up any questions? Can you offer more information on this? Did you just enjoy reading it? Leave your comment here!

First Name:

Last Name:

Your Email:

Security Code:

Confirm Code:

You are at least 13 years of age and agree to our terms of service.

(All fields Reqiuired)