Don't Discard Paracetamol For Children Due To Asthma Fears

There were many media reports last week regarding a study published in The Lancet which found an association between childhood use of paracetamol and the later development of asthma.

Consumers may become concerned and seek advice from a pharmacist or pharmacy staff.

PSA Vice-President Shane Jackson said the Lancet study only showed a modest association between children's use of paracetamol and the later development of asthma and did not prove a causal link. It is also difficult to say whether the children appeared to have a higher risk of asthma due to the condition that was being treated with paracetamol. For example, children with asthma are more likely to have upper respiratory tract infections, and more paracetamol may have been given to help with pain and fever.

As the study’s author stated, "[This] evidence is insufficient to advise parents and health-care workers of the risk-benefit of taking paracetamol in childhood, or its comparative efficacy and safety with other approaches. Further research is urgently needed, including randomised controlled trials, into the long-term effects of paracetamol to enable evidence-based guidelines for the recommended use of paracetamol in childhood to be made."

Dr Jackson supported the call for more research, but advised PSA members in the meantime to counsel parents that paracetamol did not necessarily need to be completely avoided, but should be used when necessary, for example if the child had a high fever or was in pain. 

"We need to be practical about the approach that we take with these kind of 'new' findings. We should try and give parents useful information regarding the use of paracetamol in children, and this should be, as with all medicines, that it should be used judiciously, when there is likely to be a benefit for the child, such as the reduction of high fever or pain.

"Paracetamol is a very useful medication for children, and we should continue to advise parents to use this medication when indicated. Pharmacists should try and clarify for parents regarding the use of paracetamol and the link with asthma, and put the risk into context for the parent."

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is the organisation that represents the professional interests of pharmacists across the nation. It provides standards of practice, education, training and practice support for pharmacists and helps members of the profession to deliver quality health care to consumers.