Acute asthma epidemics, weather and pollen in England, 1987-1994.

Recent epidemics of acute asthma have caused speculation that, if their causes were known, early warnings might be feasible. In particular, some epidemics seemed to be associated with thunderstorms. We wondered what risk factors predicting epidemics could be identified.

Effect of thunderstorms and airborne grass pollen on the incidence of acute asthma in England, 1990-94.

Background: Thunderstorms and prior grass pollen counts were investigated as predictors of daily hospital admissions for asthma in England. This study was motivated by reports in the literature of spectacular asthma epidemics associated with thunderstorms, particularly in the grass pollen season.

Methods: Asthma admissions for two age groups (0-14 years and 15 and over) were measured using the Hospital Episodes System (HES) in the 14 regional health authorities (RHAs) in England.

Thunderstorm-related asthma--the epidemic of 24/25 June 1994.

Background: A large epidemic of asthma occurred following a thunderstorm in southern and central England on 24/25 June 1994. A collaborative study group was formed.

Objectives: To describe the epidemic and the meteorological, aerobiological and other environmental characteristics associated with it.