Nursery World - New study on giving paracetamol to children

Giving paracetamol to children in the first year of life exposes them to a higher risk of developing asthma and eczema, according to a new study.

Research published in last week's asthma special issue of The Lancetrevealed that taking paracetamol in the first year of life increased therisk of eczema by 35 per cent and asthma by 45 per cent in children agedsix to seven. The study by the Medical Research Institute in New Zealandanalysed more than 200,00 children in 31 countries. The findings supportcurrent World Health Organisation guidelines that advise restricting theuse of paracetamol. The authors said, 'We stress the findings do notconstitute a reason to stop using paracetamol in childhood. Paracetamolremains the preferred drug to relieve pain and fever in children.'

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