I agree with Diana. It is more likely that repeated respiratory tract infections due to viruses or bacteria is the culprit rather than the paracetamol used to treat them.

Deepu Bhaskar, Dewsbury, UK

But nurofen for kids is supposedly not to be used on asthmatic children, so what should I give my 9 year asthmatic son when he has the occasional headache/fever, if not calpol nor nurofen?

Thushara, London, UK

Andrew in Sydney - i don't think paracetamol is an anti-inflammatory - although it's often used in conjunction with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (eg ibuprofen).

Tania, London,

Sorry Andrew, but paracetamol is anti-pyretic (anti-fever) and analgesic (anti-pain) but unlike ibruprofen has virtually no anti-inflammatory effect.

alice, London,

Son,, (4 months ), Calpol every time he had his vaccinations. I had a choice of letting him suffer (no fever but very groggy and grizzly all day and next) or give him a 2.5ml dose as soon as he was out of surgery (rapid recovery). Is it the vaccinations (on ave. 2/month in first 4mths) causes asthma

Meg, Hampshire, UK

I was never given calpol at at the grand old age of 40, have never had an allergy. My son (23) was never given capol (that I can remember) and he also has never had any allergies. He has also only ever had antibiotics once as a baby.

Coincidence or just genetically strong immune systems?

kim, london,

And growing older increases your chances of dying sooner than later.

Red Indian, Moscow , Russia.

Another day another study another worry. The Lancet is not everyday reading yet it seems that this report has been plucked out and rejigged for daily newspapers so we dont see it in context with all the other research into causes of asthma. Is this information useful to parents? im not so sure

anne, london,

I have only given my children Calpol..and when we lived in Canada they had Tylenol(same stuff)..when they have really needed it..I think the study is good but if I had a young infant <12 months old..I would be quite worried because of the reports..and What do you do if they are really poorly??

nic, bristol, uk

The rise in the incidence of child asthma began in the USA and spread to Europe but not to much of the Third World. It basically followed the introduction of unleaded fuel. Has anyone ever done any research to see if there is a connection?

Roger Tilbury, Worthing,

Everybody we know used Calpol. Can they really be sure that its the Calpol that is causing the athsma and not something else. i.e. Everybody used Calpol, there has been an increase in Athsma for some reason. They jump to the conclusion that its Calpol. Sorry not convinced.

Keith Sloan, Nr Winchester, UK

Asthma is inflammation of the lungs, paracetamol is an anti-inflammatory. It could be that the paracetamol is preventing the body developing natural anti-inflammation functions. In which case you may also see it where young children have been given Ibuprofen.

Andrew, Sydney,

Pretty much every parent I know gives there kids calpol does this mean they will all have Asthma? I think not.
Lizzie I think is right over cleaning house with chemicals more likely. As a child I spent most my time sat in my parents dogs basket playing and getting grubby. I have no allergies at all

Simon, Bristol, England

Almost all children have been given Calpol. Most children do not have asthma. It is like saying something as comon as chicken pox gives you something as rare as cancer.
I don't believe these stats.

Sue Doughty, Twyford, UK

The problem with evidence based medicine is that it is only that - evidence -and not fact and that works both ways; you shouldn't completely rely on the evidence nor ignore it. Caution with any drug is wise. Ibrupofen is also a painkiller i would stay well away from for my family both young & old.

James, London, UK

I've been told not to give ibruprofen to my child, who has hypermobile joints and therefore alot of pain, because of potential liver damage, so whats the alternative. See your child crying in pain or let them take drugs that may hurt thm long term. There are no easy answers.

Stephanie, Pickering, Uk

Risking a lifelong burden of athsma and hay fever (and who knows what else) in order save your child the discomfort and inconvenience of a mild fever and the routine aches and pains of childhood seems a bit cracked. Sponging is effective treatement for fevers; achy or sick children should be in bed

Delilah, Washington DC, USA

Diana's skepticism is smart. Trust a mom (right?) to outthink the PhD's.

Scare headlines never properly assess causation vs correlation. Besides Diana's explanation there may be other unrelated new factors (modern pollutants/chemicals, over-cleaning homes) separately causing asthma/need for Calpol

Lizzie, London,

Surely a child who has symptoms requiring Calpol as often as once a month from early babyhood was always going to have a higher rate of medical problems as an older child.Ibuprofen did not use to be available for babies in the UK, are we going to see similar studies in the future for ibuprofen.

Diana, Derby,