Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma: Lessons Learned from the Storm Down-Under

Dwan Price; Kira M Hughes; Francis Thien; Cenk Suphioglu

doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2020.10.022

Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma: Lessons Learned from the Storm Down-Under

J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2021 Apr;9(4):1510-1515. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.10.022. Epub 2020 Oct 22.

Authors

Dwan Price¹, Kira M Hughes², Francis Thien³, Cenk Suphioglu⁴

Affiliations

¹ NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia; NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia; Deakin AIRwatch Pollen and Spore Counting and Forecasting Facility, Deakin University, Burwood and Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia.
² NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia; Deakin AIRwatch Pollen and Spore Counting and Forecasting Facility, Deakin University, Burwood and Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia.
³ Respiratory Medicine, Eastern Health, Box Hill Hospital and Monash University, Box Hill, VIC, Australia.
⁴ NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia; NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia; Deakin AIRwatch Pollen and Spore Counting and Forecasting Facility, Deakin University, Burwood and Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: cenk.suphioglu@deakin.edu.au.

PMID: 33172604
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.10.022

Abstract

Epidemic thunderstorm asthma (ETSA) is a global health problem that can strike without sufficient warning and can have catastrophic consequences. Because of climate change, future events are likely to become more common, more disastrous, and more unpredictable. To prevent loss of life and avoid surge events on health care infrastructure, identifying at-risk individuals and their potential biomarkers is the most prophylactic approach that can be taken to mitigate the deadly consequences of ETSA. In this review, we provide an update on the clinical mechanism, global prevalence, and characteristics of those patients moderately or severely at risk of ETSA. Identifying these patient characteristics will aid clinical professionals to provide suitable and personalized treatment plans and, in turn, avoid future loss of life.

Keywords: Allergen-specific IgE; Allergens; Allergic rhinitis; Asthma treatment; Biomarkers; Epidemic thunderstorm asthma; Grass pollen; Melbourne; Risk factors; Sensitization.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Allergens
Asthma* / epidemiology
Epidemics*
Humans
Pollen
Prevalence

Substances

Allergens