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Who's at risk of thunderstorm asthma? The ryegrass pollen trifecta and lessons learnt from the Melbourne thunderstorm epidemic

Who's at risk of thunderstorm asthma? The ryegrass pollen trifecta and lessons learnt from the Melbourne thunderstorm epidemic

Authors :
Mark Hew
Caroline Kronborg
Robyn E O'Hehir
Joy Lee
Source :
Respiratory Medicine. 132:146-148
Publication Year :
2017
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2017.

Abstract

The Melbourne thunderstorm asthma epidemic in November 2016 was unprecedented in scale and impact. We systematically reviewed our hospital's patients with thunderstorm asthma to identify key risk factors. Of 85 adult patients assessed, the majority (60%) had no prior diagnosis of asthma. However, allergic rhinitis during the grass pollen season was almost universal (99%), as were ryegrass pollen sensitization (100%) and exposure to the outdoor environment during the thunderstorm (94%). Airborne pollen levels on the thunderstorm day were extreme. We conclude that ryegrass pollen sensitization, clinical allergic rhinitis, and acute allergen exposure constitute a risk-factor 'trifecta' for thunderstorm asthma.

Details

ISSN :
09546111
Volume :
132
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Respiratory Medicine
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....4292df35fc4613b1f8f5387ca444a71a
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2017.10.012