Risks: A Warning on Asthma and Acetaminophen

Young teenagers who use acetaminophen even once a month develop asthma symptoms more than twice as often as those who never take it, a large international study has found. And frequent users also had more eczema and eye and sinus irritation. Other studies have linked acetaminophen (often sold as Tylenol and in other over-the-counter remedies for pain, colds and fever) with an increased risk of asthma. But the new study’s authors cautioned that the findings did not mean children should stop using it. “Acetaminophen remains the preferred drug to relieve pain and fever in children,” said the study’s lead author. . read more.

Beware When the Label Says "Made in a Facility That Processes..."

While patients might be tempted to ignore food labels that say "made in a facility that processes" (something they're allergic to), new research suggests products with these labels are in fact more likely to be contaminated with peanuts, milk or eggs than unlabeled foods. "Our study underscores the need for allergic consumers to avoid advisory-labeled products, which present a small but real risk," the authors write in the study, which was reported online July 12th in a letter to the editor in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. While companies are required to clearly state if their products have possible allergens in the ingredient list, there are no particular regulations on whether they need to add statements such as "may contain traces of peanuts," for example, for foods that aren't supposed to contain such allergens. . read more.