Calpol causes asthma??
- Thread starter Urchin
- Start date
its not really a new story... just that a study has backed up what was already thought. news organisations have a habit of getting excited about stories that don't really exist - i know cos i work for one 
Study leader Professor Richard Beasley from the University of Auckland said: "We stress the findings do not constitute a reason to stop using paracetamol in childhood.
"However the findings do lend support to the current guidelines of the World Health Organization, which recommend that paracetamol should be reserved for children with a high fever (38.5C or above)."
i think the problem is that some parents will give their child calpol at the slightest suggestion of a cold (or even just to help them sleep
) and that this sort of overuse can cause asthma. so the advice, for some time, has been not to overuse it - BUT if your child is very unwell or (particularly) has a fever, calpol should still be given without any worries or hesitation.
becky, i very much doubt that lucy's asthma was caused by you giving her calpol, there are many other contributing factors; in her circumstances, with UTIs and fevers, you were absolutely right to give calpol to her. this is when this sort of reporting frustrates me - it makes decent parents doubt themselves and makes them feel unnecessarily guilty.
Study leader Professor Richard Beasley from the University of Auckland said: "We stress the findings do not constitute a reason to stop using paracetamol in childhood.
"However the findings do lend support to the current guidelines of the World Health Organization, which recommend that paracetamol should be reserved for children with a high fever (38.5C or above)."
i think the problem is that some parents will give their child calpol at the slightest suggestion of a cold (or even just to help them sleep
) and that this sort of overuse can cause asthma. so the advice, for some time, has been not to overuse it - BUT if your child is very unwell or (particularly) has a fever, calpol should still be given without any worries or hesitation.becky, i very much doubt that lucy's asthma was caused by you giving her calpol, there are many other contributing factors; in her circumstances, with UTIs and fevers, you were absolutely right to give calpol to her. this is when this sort of reporting frustrates me - it makes decent parents doubt themselves and makes them feel unnecessarily guilty.
purple13 said:i think the problem is that some parents will give their child calpol at the slightest suggestion of a cold (or even just to help them sleep
becky, i very much doubt that lucy's asthma was caused by you giving her calpol, there are many other contributing factors; in her circumstances, with UTIs and fevers, you were absolutely right to give calpol to her. this is when this sort of reporting frustrates me - it makes decent parents doubt themselves and makes them feel unnecessarily guilty.
When you put it in perspective like that I realise you're right. I fell into the trap of gut reaction guilt. I guess it underlines the fact that over-use of any medication should be avoided and you should use your common sense. Thanks for the reassurance!
I completely agree with purple13. I think it is important that the public be informed of any relevant information but there should be enough info for people to come to an appropriate conclusion. When looking at research papers, the outcome relies on the statistical analysis (which it would seem you need a degree in to understand!!!) which tends to be overlooked in favour of headline stealing words. I do think people perhaps do overuse paracetamol and so it may be a way to review individual use and save it for those times it really is necessary i.e fever, pain, discomfort etc.
