On Jan. 28, 2026, a new landmark study was reported by the University of Auckland that supports the safety of the common painkillers paracetamol and ibuprofen in the first year of life, and finds no link to eczema or bronchiolitis, a common respiratory illness.

Previous research suggested a potential link between paracetamol use in the first year of life and later eczema, asthma and other diseases.

Almost 4,000 babies across New Zealand participated from birth, with half randomised to ensure their parents provided paracetamol and half to ensure their parents provided ibuprofen when the infants required medication for fever or pain relief in the first year of life.

The researchers asked parents at regular intervals whether their children had eczema or asthma symptoms, or bronchiolitis. They also checked prescribing and hospital records.

The results for the first year of data have now been analysed and published in the leading journal The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.

Eczema affected about 16 percent of babies given paracetamol and 15 percent of those given ibuprofen. Bronchiolitis occurred in about five percent of babies in both groups. These differences were not significant. Serious side effects were rare, and none was caused by the medications.

The study found no association between either medication and eczema or bronchiolitis and confirmed that both drugs were safe to use. It is the first randomised controlled trial – considered the gold standard for research – to address this question.