Acetaminophen May Be Associated With Asthma Risk

November 5, 2009 6:29 a.m. EST

Miami, FL (AHN) - The popular pain reliever acetaminophen may be linked to asthma in children and adults, according to research conducted at the University of British Columbia.

The researchers conducted a systematic review of 19 clinical studies that compared the risk of asthma or wheezing with acetaminophen exposure. A total of 425,140 people were involved in the studies.

The researchers said they noted a slight increase in the risk of asthma in children who took acetaminophen one year before they were diagnosed with the condition.

A similar increase was observed in mothers who took the drug while pregnant.

The study appears in the November issue of CHEST, the journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.