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SEASONAL WAVES OF ASTHMA — A GEOGRAPHICAL COMPARISON
Author(s) -
DERRICK E. H.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1968.tb01747.x
Subject(s) - medicine , asthma , demography , spring (device) , mechanical engineering , sociology , engineering
SYNOPSIS Admissions for asthma to children's hospitals in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne for the 3 years 1955‐58 showed a series of seasonal waves. Most of these occurred at related times in all 4 centres, implying that some important precipitating factors operate over a wide geographical range. Spring waves usually appeared successively in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne, with an over‐all interval from north to south of about 4 weeks; they occurred in the grass pollen season, particularly in Adelaide and Melbourne, but there are some reservations in accepting pollens as a full explanation. In February‐March, large waves occurred in all 4 centres in 1957, and minor waves in some centres in 1956 and 1958; they were probably related to the spread of infections in young children that follows the opening of the school year. Autumn waves, when present, tended to begin at the same time in the different centres; they were greater and more prolonged in Brisbane than elsewhere.