Paracetamol safe to give to children

Paracetamol200
Sourced: Asthma Foundation NSW

Recent media reports have suggested an association between the use of paracetamol in the first year of a child’s life and an increased risk of them developing childhood asthma, hay fever and eczema at age 6-7 years.

Further randomized controlled research is required to determine whether paracetamol actually contributes to asthma in childhood.

Asthma Foundation NSW advises that it is still safe to use paracetamol for pain relief and fever in children, and that paracetamol is the best medication to use in this situation.

However, parents should be aware that the World Health Organization guidelines recommend paracetamol only be used in children with fever of 38.5°C or above. Simple cooling strategies, e.g. lukewarm sponging, can be used for minor fever.

Asthma Foundation NSW recommends that people with asthma continue to use paracetamol for relief of pain and fever due to the risk that aspirin or non steroidal anti-inflammatories such as naproxen and ibuprofen may trigger an asthma attack.

Aspirin is not recommended for use in children under the age of 12 years because of the risk of rare but severe problems.

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