Further information on Thunderstorm Asthma taken from...

Further information on Thunderstorm Asthma taken from 6minutes.com.au

"Thunderstorm asthma worse for the unwary
24 March, 2017 Michael Woodhead

Almost half the people affected by Melbourne’s catastrophic thunderstorm asthma event last year had not previously been diagnosed with asthma, a patient survey has confirmed.
The impact of the November 2016 event that triggered asthma attacks in thousands of people and left nine dead was worsened because many did not know how to manage breathing difficulties, according to Asthma Australia.
In their survey of 2500 people who developed symptoms, 40% said they had not been previously diagnosed with asthma.
It also showed that 92% of the people affected had allergic rhinitis.
Only 25% of those who were undiagnosed knew what first aid steps to take for an asthma attack, noted Michele Goldman, CEO of Asthma Australia.
“Because so many did not have an asthma diagnosis, they did not know what was happening or what to do. We need to make sure the whole community can identify asthma symptoms and act in an asthma emergency,” she said.
The thunderstorm asthma epidemic was caused by very high levels of rye grass pollen particles being fragmented and dispersed by extreme weather conditions.
These were then inhaled into the airways, and caused a reaction leading to inflammation of the airways and difficulty breathing in those who were susceptible.
Professor Jo Douglass, head of the allergy and clinical immunology department at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, said the findings highlighted the importance of preventer medication for asthma.
“Alongside the survey responses, clinical experience since the event is telling us that people who were regularly using asthma preventer medications fared much better,” Professor Douglass said.""