Scientists have found that a suggested link between early exposure to paracetamol and an increased risk of developing asthma in childhood may be ‘overstated'.

Previous research has suggested that the use of this common painkiller during pregnancy and/or a child's early years may increase the risk of that child developing asthma, so Australian scientists decided to investigate further.

They searched medical databases for all evidence relating to this topic that was published between 1967 and 2013. Over 1,100 potential studies were found, 11 of which were found to be suitable for inclusion in their analysis.

Of the 11 studies, seven looked at the possible link between exposure to the painkiller in the womb and asthma later on. However, the scientists found that these studies reached very different conclusions and only one took into account the potential role of respiratory infections during pregnancy, which are likely to have an important role.

Six of the studies looked at exposure during the first two years of life - this is seen as a very important time for lung development.

While they suggested an association between paracetamol and asthma risk, this link was weakened after respiratory tract infections during early life were taken into account.

Furthermore, while a link was found between asthma risk and the number of times a child had been given the painkiller, this link virtually disappeared when respiratory tract infections were taken into account, ‘making it unlikely that paracetamol is a clinically important risk factor for asthma'.

The scientists from the University of Melbourne acknowledged that a proper study on this topic is highly unlikely as this would require some babies to be given a dummy pill, which many parents would not allow.

Following their research, they said that the current evidence suggesting a link between early exposure to paracetamol and asthma is ‘weak'.

"The evidence of an association between early life paracetamol and asthma is often overstated, and there is currently insufficient evidence to support changing guidelines in the use of this medicine," they added.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Archives of Disease in Childhood.

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