Treating premature babies with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with paracetamol is effective and does not increase the risk of asthma or allergies, say Australian researchers.

The study looked at the long-term effects of giving babies with PDA paracetamol to help close the fetal blood vessel due to clinical concerns over evidence of serious adverse effects on children exposed to paracetamol during pregnancy.

PDA affects about half of infants born at less than 29 weeks.

The study followed 58 babies aged between 23 and 28 weeks who were given the drug or placebo for five days every six hours from the day they were born.