To the Editor: The approach of spring, together with high winter rainfall in and around Melbourne,1 heralds another severe pollen season, raising the risk of allergic rhinitis and asthma in pollen-sensitive individuals. It is therefore timely to report an epidemic of “thunderstorm asthma” that occurred in Melbourne during spring 2010.
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- 1. Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology. Annual climate summary 2010. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/annual_sum/2010/AnClimSum10_LR1.0.pdf (accessed Jul 2011).
- 2. Suphioglu C, Singh M, Taylor P, et al. Mechanism of grass-pollen-induced asthma. Lancet 1992; 339: 569-572.
- 3. Bellomo R, Gigliotti P, Treloar A, et al. Two consecutive thunderstorm associated epidemics of asthma in the city of Melbourne. The possible role of rye grass pollen. Med J Aust 1992; 156: 834-837.
- 4. Taylor P, Jonsson H. Thunderstorm asthma. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2004; 4: 409-413.
- 5. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “Thunderstorm asthma” reaches epidemic proportions. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/25/3076420.htm?site=melbourne (accessed Jul 2011).
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Christine McDonald has received funding (for advisory board membership, research and conference attendance) from GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Novartis. Michael Sutherland has received honoraria for lectures from AstraZeneca and Stallergenes.