Thunderstorm‐related asthma – the epidemic of 24/25 June 1994

Abstract

This study supports the view that patients with specific IgE to grass pollen are at risk of thunderstorm-related asthma. The details of the causal pathway from storm to asthma attack are not clear. Case-control and time series studies are being carried out.

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008*

“…However, pollen allergens can be borne on submicronic particles (399, 400) and induce and/or contribute to the persistence of rhinitis and asthma. This is particularly the case of asthma attacks occurring during thunderstorms (401)(402)(403)(404)(405). Cross-reactivities between pollens are now better understood using molecular biology techniques (406)(407)(408)(409).…”

A trans-disciplinary overview of case reports of thunderstorm-related asthma outbreaks and relapse

“…Another asthma outbreak occurred in London, UK, coinciding with a heavy thunderstorm on June 24, 1994, when a large increase in the number of visits for asthma at the emergency departments of London and the southwest of England was observed. Several patients who were examined, who were not known to be asthmatics or were affected only by seasonal rhinitis, experienced an asthma attack [15]. During a 30-h period from 18:00 h on June 24, 1994, 640 patients with asthma or other airways disease (283 of whom were not known to be asthmatic and 403 were affected only by seasonal rhinitis) attended several emergency departments, nearly 10 times the expected number of 66 patients.…”

Allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma: a uniform airway disease?

“…On the other hand, when pollen allergens are exposed to watery secretion, they can be dissolved, thus reaching the lower airways and inducing asthmatic inflammation (16). The extent of exposition in these cases is also important, as has been shown in thunderstorm-induced asthma (17).…”