Electronic letters to:

Research:
Hong-Yu Wang, MD PhD, Gary W.K. Wong, MD, Yu-Zhi Chen, MD, Alexander C. Ferguson, MB ChB, Justina M. Greene, Yu Ma, MD, Nan-Shan Zhong, MD, Christopher K.W. Lai, DM, and Malcolm R. Sears, MB ChB
Prevalence of asthma among Chinese adolescents living in Canada and in China
CMAJ 2008; 179: 1133-1142 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read eLetter] Paracetamol and suppressing fever are not mentioned by the authors.
Wouter Havinga   (12 December 2008)

Paracetamol and suppressing fever are not mentioned by the authors. 12 December 2008
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Wouter Havinga
NHS

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Re: Paracetamol and suppressing fever are not mentioned by the authors.

wouter.havinga{at}gmail.com Wouter Havinga

In addition to the mentioned risk factors for asthma, it would be interesting to compare the use of paracetamol (acetaminophen) in China and Canada for common colds, coughs, tummy upsets, sleep problems, headaches, etc, as paracetamol might contribute to asthma? 1

 

Furthermore it would be good to compare the approach to fever in China and Canada. In the UK for example, there is wide spread "fever phobia" and people try to counter the fever process. Could the suppression of acute inflammatory processes lead to chronic inflammatory diseases? 2

 

1) Beasley R, Clayton T, Crane J, et al. Association between paracetamol use in infancy and childhood, and risk of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in children aged 6–7 years: analysis from Phase Three of the ISAAC programme. Lancet 2008; 372:1039–1048
  • 2) Wouter Havinga. In the interest of the public. http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/337/sep02_2/a1409#202312

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    Conflict of Interest:

    None declared