Submit your question for Dr. Mary Mason

Dr. Mary Mason wants to hear from you. She's answers your health questions every Wednesday on News 4 at Noon. This week, she's answering questions on kids and Tylenol.

Q: What is the concern about Tylenol in kids?

A: A recent study published in Lancet suggests that infants given Tylenol or acetaminophen for a high fever before the age of one may have a higher chance of developing asthma by the time they are 6.  This study look at over 200,000 children and found that those who had a least one dose of Tylenol during the first year of life had an increase asthma risk of 61% and those who had at least one dose a month had 3x the risk of developing asthma, according to this study.

Q: Why did scientists even look at Tylenol as a possible cause of asthma?

A: The incidence of childhood asthma has been steadily increasing in the United States- it is now estimated that at least 5 million or 7.5% of school aged children have asthma.  Asthma affects the airways in the lungs causing wheezing and shortness of breath when the airways become swollen and obstructed.  When oxygen can not get to the lungs and the blood stream- this is life threatening.  While the reason that asthma is on the rise is not clear, there are many potential risk factors, including childhood viral infections, environment factors such as smoke, dust mites or cockroaches.  Widespread use of Tylenol is also in a consideration.

Q: How can Tylenol potentially cause asthma?

A: Some scientists think that Tylenol can decrease the number of antioxidants in a child’s body.  Antioxidants stop unstable molecules called free radicals from damaging normal tissue such as lung tissue.  The theory is that the stress from unchallenged free radicals can damage lung tissue and lead to asthma.

Q: What should parents do?  Should they use continue to use Tylenol?

A: Many parents turn to acetaminophen or Tylenol liquid suspension when a child has fever, minor pain or aches.  While this study may raise a red flag about Tylenol use in infants, it still should be considered the treatment of choice for high fever.   The alternative, aspirin, is linked with a rare but serious condition called Reye’s syndrome.  Best advice, only use medication that is absolutely necessary in children- and this applies to all medication, not just Tylenol.  More rigorous scientific studies are need to see if Tylenol use in infancy is link to asthma later in life.

About Dr. Mary Mason:

Dr. Mason is board certified in Internal Medicine and is the Assistant Clinical Professor at Washington University School of Medicine. She went to medical school at Washington University, and did her Internal Medicine Residency and
was Chief Resident for Internal Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.  Dr. Mason teaches in the internal medicine residency clinic.