Children are suffering liver failure after taking paracetamol even at the recommended dose, researchers have found. Dr Ted O'Loughlin, a staff specialist in gastroenterology at Sydney's New Children's Hospital, said dosing children with paracetamol over several days appeared risky, particularly if they were not eating well. A study of 16 children treated at the hospital for liver failure found eight had no risk factors other than taking paracetamol over several days for colds. Three of the children died.