title: Household airborne Penicillium associated with peak expiratory flow variability in asthmatic children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to airborne fungi has been associated with increased airway hyperreactivity and asthma prevalence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between common indoor fungi and airway hyperreactivity measured by peak expiratory flow variability in asthmatic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children 6 to 12 years of age (n = 225) with a physician diagnosis of asthma were enrolled in the study to have their peak expiratory flow recorded twice daily during a 2-week period. Genus-specific, quantitative, in-home airborne mold concentrations were measured. Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between a mean peak expiratory flow variability greater than 18.5% (75th percentile) and any mold in the home (total mold, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mold was detected in 93% of the homes. The most common molds were Cladosporium in 72% and Penicillium in 42% of the samples. Controlling for sex, ethnicity, age, and winter season of sampling, Penicillium measured in the home was associated with a mean peak expiratory flow variability greater than 18.5% (odds ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-4.8). Greater peak expiratory flow variability was not associated with total mold or other mold measured in the home.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to airborne Penicillium is associated with increased peak expiratory flow variability in asthmatic children.
authors: Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy/Immunology & Rheumatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14642, USA. Kemp_Bundy@urmc.rochester.edu
authors: Kemp W
authors: KW
authors: Bundy
authors: Janneane F
authors: JF
authors: Gent
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Beckett
authors: Michael B
authors: MB
authors: Bracken
authors: Kathleen
authors: K
authors: Belanger
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Triche
authors: Brian P
authors: BP
authors: Leaderer
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification