Indoor determinants of endotoxin and dust mite exposures in Hong Kong homes with asthmatic children.

Background: Domestic endotoxin enhances airway inflammation and increases asthma severity in Caucasian children, but little data are published on indoor endotoxin exposure in Asian countries. This study investigated house dust endotoxin and Der p 1 levels in Hong Kong families with asthmatic children, and their effects on asthma severity.

Methods: 115 asthmatics from a pediatric clinic underwent fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and spirometric measurements.

Multiplex molecular detection of respiratory pathogens in children with asthma exacerbation.

Background: Up to 80% of asthma exacerbations in white children are associated with viral upper respiratory infections. The relative importance of different respiratory pathogens and relevant microbiological data in Asian children are unclear. This study elucidated the epidemiology of respiratory infections in Hong Kong children with asthma exacerbation.

Parent-reported adverse food reactions in Hong Kong Chinese pre-schoolers: epidemiology, clinical spectrum and risk factors.

The epidemiology of adverse food reactions (AFRs), including the potentially life-threatening food allergy (FA), in Asia is unclear. AFR is believed to be less prevalent than in Caucasians. This study determines the prevalence, clinical features and risk factors for parent-reported AFR in Chinese pre-school children in Hong Kong.