A meta-analysis (Etminan et al., 2009) suggested that the risk (odds ratio) of acetaminophen associated asthma is 1.63 in children and adults and use during pregnancy lead to a risk of 1.28 for asthma and 1.50 for wheezing in children. An odds ratio of 1 means that asthma is likely to occur in both groups (those that used acetaminophen and those that didn’t, equally) and an odds ratio greater than 1 shows that asthma is more likely to occur with acetaminophen use than without. A follow-up study was conducted by Eyers et al. (2011) to build on these findings. These authors reported a risk for wheezing in children of 1.21 in the offspring of women who used acetaminophen during pregnancy. This study provides further evidence of the relationship between acetaminophen use and asthma and wheezing in children. In a study reviewing the use of high dose acetaminophen, it was found that the risk of asthma more than tripled.
As there are confounding factors that may also lend to the increased prevalence of asthma and respiratory disorders in children, it is interesting to note that there are many large population-based studies that suggest the association of acetaminophen use increases the risk of asthma and wheezing.
Further research is necessary to fully understand this relationship between acetaminophen use and respiratory conditions. I don’t think any lawsuits are imminent. There is still too much that science needs to do to sort this out.