Thunderstorm Triggers Freak Asthma Outbreak in Australia, Killing Four

[vellavu]

http://gizmodo.com/thunderstorm-triggers-freak-asthma-outbreak-in-australi-1789312870

Four people are dead and another 1,870 people had to be treated for shortness of breath when a rare condition known as “thunderstorm asthma” struck the Australian city of Melbourne earlier this week.

It sounds weird, but thunderstorm-induced asthma is actually a thing. As the Associated Press is reporting, a storm rolled through Melbourne this past Monday, causing rain-soaked ryegrass pollen to explode and disperse over the city. The sudden influx of pollen triggered asthma attacks among many of the city’s residents, including people who had never suffered from asthma before.

Four people died as a result, while first responders had to attend to more than 1,870 cases. That’s about six-times the usual workload for a Monday evening. Seven patients had to be admitted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s intensive care unit.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Not knocking the newly departed but those who got sick are they thinking why did God allow this to happen or what of the saying, the Devil protects his own?

 

[GwenRaiden]

Kind of sounds like an underwhelming sci-fi film.

Asthma is scary though. Being able to breathe is, like, important, and it's scary when you're struggling to. I've caught like three bad chest infections in a row and the doctor wants to test me for asthma, which is weird considering I'm almost 30. Keep hearing the old "you should really quit smoking" nonsense from the doc too. Hmmm, nah.

 

[Bluebird]

I had asthma as a childhood disease that I grew out of. Or I hope I have considering I'm a smoker. 😛

The worst experience I had with it was during a bad chest infection that had went untreated, my windpipe would close up completely after I'd cough, and it would take a few more coughs to open again. It was at that point they got the little bus ambulance out to take me to the hospital lol. I don't think people realise how serious it can be.

 

[GwenRaiden]

that I grew out of

Or that you passed on to ME

 

[ILLYRIAN]

I quit smoking a few months ago, I often wish I'd given up sooner because whenever I sneeze my ribcage hurts and deep breathing isn't as easy as it once was.
There are seasonal problems, swallowing humbugs is now an issue.

 

[November]

I have never had any issues with hay fever or asthma until this year. I am 31. My spring times for the last decade plus have been me covered in horse hair, horse crap and knee deep in hay. Not this year.

I have had real bad chest pain and breathing/coughing problems for the last 5 months, but the hospital trips result in nothing but recommendations of pain medication (to manage my near on dislocated ribs from coughing issues they wouldnt look into). My self and my housemate, plus a fair few of my friends and their kids, all have had hay fever so much worse this year. There is an injection a few need to get every 8 weeks to manage symptoms because normal antihistamines are not enough.

A few things that may have influenced this for me
- stopping neuroleptic medication
- moving TO the city from a rural area
- living within 1km of heavy traffic
- major diet changes (chips are cheaper than cauliflower)
- increase in all chemical cleaner and soap use
- active in the garden multiple times daily

Asthma medication used to only be available on prescription in Aust, but now days you can get it from any chemist. The last few years they have been encouraging people to have one on hand in their first aide kits. Is it an increase in population meaning more need for inhalers or are more people suffering? And if more people are suffering - why? Will we actually have to be worried about a thunderstorm making us gasp for breath? Because they roll in very fast :/

 

[The Bronze]

Note to self, avoid thunderstorms and Australia. I've had asthma all my life but it doesn't stop me doing anything. When it is bad though it's pretty scary and that just sounds awful.

 

[November]

8 people have died now.

And they have had stories of people waiting for an hour for ambulances and dying while waiting.

In my city - no one can drive if it rains or hails, they all freak out and block up the roads, so this is even scarier to know that help will not get there in time.

Maybe they need warnings in place - get people to go to their nearest medical centre because they will get treatment quicker than emergency services in this situation.