Use of paracetamol in babies increases the risk of developing asthma five years later, a study of more than 200,000 children suggests.
Those given the painkiller for fever in the first year of life had a 46% increased risk of asthma by the age of six or seven, The Lancet reported.
Researchers do not know if the drug directly increases asthma risk or another underlying factor is to blame.
Experts said parents should still use the drug for high temperatures.
Increasing use of paracetamol in children has coincided with rising cases of asthma over the past 50 years, the researchers said.
The latest study, carried out in 31 countries, is the largest to date looking at paracetamol use and childhood asthma.
Parents of children aged six and seven were asked questionnaires about symptoms of asthma, eczema and related allergic conditions in addition to details on paracetamol use for fever in the child's first year of life and the past 12 months.
The results also showed that higher doses and more regular use of the drug are associated with a greater risk of developing asthma.
Analysis of current use in 103,000 children showed those who had used paracetamol more than once a month in the past year had a three-fold increased risk of asthma.
Use of paracetamol was also associated with more severe asthma symptoms.
And risk of eczema and hayfever was also increased. - BBC News
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