Scientists have carried out some incredible work in recent times, particularly in relation to pregnancy and fertility, and the following report apparently shows great research potential for the future.
A team of researchers from the UK and Norway claim to have established a link between asthma in babies and taking paracetamol during pregnancy.
The research, part of the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, has shown that women who take paracetamol for a number of ailments during their pregnancy are more likely to have babies who will go on to develop asthma.
As part of the research, the team looked at a number of different conditions that arose among a group of women during pregnancy, which were treated with and without paracetamol. They then looked at the rate of development of asthma in their children at ages three and seven.
Specifically, the researchers looked at how likely it was for asthma to arise after bouts of pain, fever or flu among the mothers – the three most common causes for taking paracetamol.
With 5.7% of the children developing asthma by three years, the researchers were able to establish a direct link between the condition and their mothers’ paracetamol consumption during their pregnancy.
Commenting on the findings, which were published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, co-author Maria Magnus said: “Uncovering potential adverse effects is of public health importance, as paracetamol is the most commonly used painkiller among pregnant women and infants .”
She did, however, insist that the findings do not require any changes to how pregnant women are currently instructed to use paracetamol during their pregnancy. Rather, the research will prove important for future studies into tackling asthma treatment and prevention.
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