Open AccessThunderstorm‐related asthma can occur in New Zealand
Author(s) -
Sabih Ayan,
Russell Claire,
Chang Catherina L.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
respirology case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2051-3380
DOI - 10.1002/rcr2.655
Subject(s) - thunderstorm , asthma , storm , meteorology , medicine , scale (ratio) , climatology , medical emergency , geography , cartography , geology
Abstract Thunderstorm asthma is induced by specific weather conditions causing breakdown and widespread distribution of allergens. Thunderstorm asthma had previously been considered unlikely to occur in New Zealand (NZ), given its local weather patterns. Storm events on 2 December 2017 led to increased asthma presentations at Waikato Hospital in Hamilton. Analyses of patient presentations led us to conclude that these presentations were similar to international descriptions of thunderstorm asthma. This is the first time such presentations have been reported in NZ. Documenting these events accurately is important as this is the first step to making a plan that would enable paramedics and emergency facilities across NZ to respond to any larger scale thunderstorm asthma events in the future.