Open Access<p>Thunderstorm Asthma: Looking Back and Looking Forward</p>
Author(s) -
Ajay Kevat
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of asthma and allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.162
H-Index - 30
ISSN - 1178-6965
DOI - 10.2147/jaa.s265697
Subject(s) - thunderstorm , asthma , medicine , etiology , epidemiology , population , pulmonology , pediatrics , intensive care medicine , environmental health , meteorology , geography
Epidemic thunderstorm asthma has been reported to have occurred around twenty times over the past three decades in locations around the world. Thunderstorm asthma events are characterized by a significant increase in asthma presentations, which on occasion can overwhelm local medical services and result in fatalities. This review article presents the epidemiological data underpinning previous thunderstorm asthma events and analyzes what is known about the etiology of this unusual phenomenon. The evidence behind published risk factors, both at the individual and population level, is discussed. Research from the fields of allergy, pulmonology, meteorology, and climatology is drawn together and critically reviewed to surmise future predictions regarding thunderstorm asthma episodes. Finally, evidence-based individual, community, and environmentally targeted preventive strategies are presented.