"acetaminophen use and the symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in children "

allergic diseases are frequent in children and their prevalence and severity deffer in the different regions of the world. a number of studies have been performed to determine the factors which are effective in the incidence of these diseases. one of the drugs that might have a role in incidence or intensity of the symptoms of allergic diseases is acetaminophen. in our survey conducted with standardized method (international study of asthma and allergies in childhood), 3000 children 6-7 years old and 3000 teenagers 13-14 years old were questioned regarding asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema. the prevalence of ever wheezing in the children of 6-7 years old who took acetaminophen in the first year of their life was 11.3%, which is more than other group (odds ratio=1.54, 95% confidence interval: 1-2.38, p=0.049) and the prevalence of ever wheezing in older age group who have taken acetaminophen at least once in a month was 25.1% which is more than those taken less acetaminophen (or=1.7, 95%ci=1.43-2.04, p=0.000). moreover taking more acetaminophen during past 12 months led to more prevalence of night dry coughs and the symptoms of rhinitis in children 6-7 years old and eczema and rhinitis symptoms in the 13-14 years old. our findings suggest that taking more acetaminophen may be assossiated with increasing allergic symptoms in children.