[Did glucan in indoor environment cause respiratory tract inflammation?]

Three children living in a house affected by mould manifested severe airways and general symptoms indicative of non-specific airways inflammation. Measurement of airborne (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, a cell wall constituent in moulds, yielded values ranging from 22 to 115 ng/m3, as compared to normal values of some few ng/m3. On moving to relatives, all three children improved and could terminate medication after 2-3 weeks. The findings are consistent with previous reports of symptoms induced by exposure to mould, and suggest that quantification of viable organisms may not adequately reflect the exposure risk.