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Sussex-based Action Research is developing a sensor to detect asthma in
children under five years old. The sensor measures the amount of nitric oxide in
a child’s breath. Nitric oxide is associated with the inflammation that asthma
causes. The sensor is fitted to a face mask and when a child breathes on it, the
presence of nitric oxide is revealed by a chemical change. In the past, it has
been difficult to test reliably whether a child under five has asthma. The face
mask sensor is currently undergoing trials.