Adverse Respiratory Symptoms and Environmental Exposures among Children and Adolescents following Hurricane Katrina

Rath, Barbara; Young, Elizabeth A.; Harris, Amy; Perrin, Keith; Bronfin, Daniel R.; Ratard, Raoult; Vandyke, Russell; Goldshore, Matthew; Magnus, Manya

doi:10.1177/003335491112600611

Cited by 41 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Despite limitations, our results may help inform postdisaster health services delivery and predisaster mitigation planning; clinicians and disaster planners should be aware that demand for asthma-related health care may rise among survivors, as suggested by previous research (Ohkouchi et al, 2013;Rath et al, 2011), and that those experiencing PTSD avoidance symptoms may be at particular risk.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

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Association of PTSD Symptoms With Asthma Attacks Among Hurricane Katrina Survivors

Arcaya¹,

Lowe

Rhodes

et al. 2014

Journal of Traumatic Stress

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The relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and asthma in the wake of natural disasters is poorly understood. Using pre- and postdisaster data (N = 405) from the Resilience in Survivors of Katrina (RISK) project, we examined associations between PTSD symptoms, measured by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and self-reported postdisaster asthma attacks. A 1-point increase in the IES-R avoidance score, which corresponded to one standard deviation change in this sample, was associated with double the odds of reporting an asthma attack or episode since the hurricane, 95% CI Revise spacing among characters: [1.22, 4.16]. Association with hyperarousal and intrusion symptoms was null. Further research using objective measures of asthma morbidity is needed; nevertheless, these findings may help inform postdisaster health services delivery and predisaster mitigation planning.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…The prevalence of asthma and other respiratory symptoms increases in the aftermath of natural disasters (e.g., Ohkouchi et al., ; Rath et al., ). Disrupted access to medication (Hendrickson, Vogt, Goebert, & Pon, ) and physical triggers such as contaminated air (Rando, Lefante, Freyder, & Jones, ) have been identified as postdisaster asthma risk factors.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of PTSD Symptoms With Asthma Attacks Among Hurricane Katrina Survivors

Arcaya¹,

Lowe

Rhodes

et al. 2014

Journal of Traumatic Stress

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“…Numerous studies have confirmed higher concentrations of mold spores in the indoor air of houses flooded during Hurricane Katrina. Asthma-like respiratory symptoms were the major associated health issue (Solomon et al, 2006;Rao et al, 2007;Barbeau et al, 2010), however other upper and lower respiratory symptoms and neuro-ophthalmic symptoms also have been reported from children and adults affected by Hurricane Katrina (Rath et al, 2011;Sridhar et al, 2012). Moreover, several published studies have assessed the mycotoxins found in dust samples from homes during the post-Hurricane Katrina period (Bloom et al, 2009;Chung et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Volatile organic compounds from fungi isolated after hurricane katrina induce developmental defects and apoptosis in aDrosophila melanogastermodel

Inamdar

Bennett

2013

Environ. Toxicol.

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In previous work, our laboratory developed a Drosophila model for studying the adverse effects of fungal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by growing cultures of molds. In this report, we have extended these studies and compared the toxic effects of fungal VOCs emitted from living cultures of four molds isolated after Hurricane Katrina from a flooded home in New Orleans. Strains of Aspergillus, Mucor, Penicillium, and Trichoderma were grown with wild-type larvae and the toxic effects of volatile products on the developmental stages of Drosophila larvae were evaluated. Furthermore, heterozygous mutants of Drosophila carrying the apoptotic genes, reaper and dronc, were used to assess the role of apoptosis in fungal VOCs mediated toxicity. Third-instar larvae of Drosophila carrying these apoptotic genes were exposed to fungal VOCs emitted from growing mold cultures for 10 days. The larval strains carrying apoptopic genes survived longer than the control wild type larvae; moreover, of those that survived, heterozygous reaper and dronc strains progressed to pupae and adult phases more rapidly, suggesting that fungal VOCs may induce apoptotic changes in flies. These data lend support to the use of Drosophila as an inexpensive and genetically versatile toxicological model to investigate the mechanistic basis for some of the human illnesses/symptoms associated with exposure to mold-contaminated indoor air, especially after hurricanes.

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“…[ 26 , 27 ] While there was no increase in ARI in this study, this has occurred in the setting of multiple cases among a single population,[ 30 ] and possibly in association with increased environmental exposures. [ 31 ] This study had an increased number of presentations with skin infections. While theoretically sound, there is surprisingly little previous published data to support this.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emergency Department Presentations following Tropical Cyclone Yasi

et al. 2015

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IntroductionEmergency departments see an increase in cases during cyclones. The aim of this study is to describe patient presentations to the Emergency Department (ED) of a tertiary level hospital (Townsville) following a tropical cyclone (Yasi). Specific areas of focus include changes in: patient demographics (age and gender), triage categories, and classification of diseases.MethodsData were extracted from the Townsville Hospitals ED information system (EDIS) for three periods in 2009, 2010 and 2011 to coincide with formation of Cyclone Yasi (31 January 2011) to six days after Yasi crossed the coast line (8 February 2012). The analysis explored the changes in ICD10-AM 4-character classification and presented at the Chapter level.ResultsThere was a marked increase in the number of patients attending the ED during Yasi, particularly those aged over 65 years with a maximum daily attendance of 372 patients on 4 Feb 2011. The most marked increases were in: Triage categories - 4 and 5; and ICD categories - diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99), and factors influencing health care status (Z00-Z99). The most common diagnostic presentation across all years was injury (S00-T98).DiscussionThere was an increase in presentations to the ED of TTH, which peaked in the first 24 – 48 hours following the cyclone and returned to normal over a five-day period. The changes in presentations were mostly an amplification of normal attendance patterns with some altered areas of activity. Injury patterns are similar to overseas experience.

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Adverse Respiratory Symptoms and Environmental Exposures among Children and Adolescents following Hurricane Katrina

Abstract: Children and adolescents affected by Hurricane Katrina experienced environmental exposures associated with increased prevalence of reported URS and LRS. Additional research is needed to investigate the long-term health impacts of Hurricane Katrina.

Cited by 41 publications

References 20 publications

Association of PTSD Symptoms With Asthma Attacks Among Hurricane Katrina Survivors

Association of PTSD Symptoms With Asthma Attacks Among Hurricane Katrina Survivors

Volatile organic compounds from fungi isolated after hurricane katrina induce developmental defects and apoptosis in aDrosophila melanogastermodel

Emergency Department Presentations following Tropical Cyclone Yasi

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