A large study of young teenagers found that taking acetaminophen–the drug found in fever-reducing Tylenol–increases the risk of asthma. Doctors note that acetaminophen is still the best choice for treating a child’s fever, but parents of children known to have asthma symptoms should talk with their pediatrician about when and how to use the drug most effectively and safely.
Authors of the report, part of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), believe that acetaminophen may cause systemic inflammation, which could trigger asthma.
Source: New York Times, August 16, 2010