Hydrogen Peroxide in Exhaled Breath Condensate in Common Colds

Collection of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a non-invasive method for obtaining samples from lung for assessing biochemical lung function. EBC contains large numbers of mediators like Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Concentration of these mediators is influenced by various respiratory diseases. The project was undertaken to determine the normal levels of the mediator H2O2 in normal healthy subjects in an Indian population and in subjects with symptoms of common cold. It was established that common cold causes an increase in the level of H2O2 and hence it has a confounding effect on the values of H2O2 in EBC.