SummaryEighty‐two children admitted to hospital with exacerbations of asthma were studied to determine how many were exposed to house dust mites at the time of admission and displayed immediate hypersensitivity to house dust mites. The concentration of house dust mite allergen (Der pI) was measured in dust obtained from the child's mattress, bedroom floor and living room floor. Sixty‐two (75%) children admitted had been exposed to>10 μgDer pI/g. Sixty‐seven (82%) children were sensitive to house dust mite(RAST 1 +, or weal 3 mm): 49 (60%) children were both exposed and sensitive. In contrast in a control group of 44 children, 31 (70%)(n.s.) were exposed to>10μgDer pI/g, 10 (23%) (P10 μgDer pI/g. In contrast, of the remaining 62 children who were not readmitted, only 19 were both sensitive and still exposed to>10μgDer pI/g (P<0.001). In conclusion, the majority of children admitted to hospital with exacerbations of asthma were exposed to house dust mite allergen and were house dust mite sensitive. Further the results suggest that continued exposure to higher concentrations of mite allergen may be associated with the risk of
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