Paracetamol linked to asthma in children All the children had mothers with asthma, which meant they themselves were at a higher risk than normal of developing the condition. By the age of three, 19 per cent had asthma-like symptoms, but those who had been given more paracetamol as a baby were more likely to display these signs. Specifically, for each doubling of the number of days in which paracetamol was administered, there was a 28 per cent increase in asthma risk by three years of age. But the researchers cautioned that the children who ended up developing asthma could have simply been sicker babies, meaning they needed to have paracetamol more frequently. They said: "We think it is too early to conclude a causal relationship, but the findings should encourage further research into a plausible biological mechanism." Malayka Rahman, from Asthma UK, said: "This research adds to what we already know, that there does appear to be a link between paracetamol and asthma. There is some evidence to suggest that increased use of paracetamol may lead to an increased risk of experiencing asthma symptoms such as wheezing or a tightness in the chest, however at this time the evidence is not conclusive. When used according to the manufacturer's directions paracetamol is a safe and effective treatment for pain and fever so we continue to advise people that the benefits of using paracetamol far outweigh the risks.