Doctors from Timișoara warn about the so-called phenomenon “storm asthma”which can also affect children without a previous diagnosis of asthma. They report that, in Romania, there are no statistics showing how many such episodes occur.
“Strong coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath during a summer storm may indicate an asthma attack. The phenomenon is called “storm asthma,” and it can even affect children who have not previously been diagnosed with asthma.
In Romania, there are no statistics showing how many such episodes occur. The phenomenon is rather unrecognized and underreported. The child arrives at the emergency room with difficulty breathing, and the case is recorded as an asthma attack, an episode of bronchospasm, or an allergic reaction. The connection with the storm and high pollen concentration often goes unnoticed,” transmits on Tuesday, July 21, the Department of Pediatric Pneumology of the Timisoara County Hospital.
The institution explains that thunderstorm asthma is not a distinct condition, but an acute respiratory reaction produced by the combination of high pollen in the air, high humidity and strong currents that occur before and during a storm.
“Typically, rain is considered beneficial for allergy sufferers because it temporarily clears the air of pollen. But in the case of heavy summer storms, the effect can be just the opposite. Air currents bring large amounts of pollen from the upper atmosphere to the ground. Because of the humidity, the pollen particles absorb water and break into extremely small fragments.
If whole particles are stopped, most often in the nose and throat, the resulting fragments can penetrate deep into the respiratory tract and reach the level of the bronchi. Once inhaled, they can cause inflammation and narrowing of the airways, triggering an asthma attack”, says Prof. Dr. Ioana Ciucă, primary pediatric pulmonologist, coordinator of the Department of Pediatric Pneumology at Timișoara County Hospital.
Doctors in Timișoara warn that the phenomenon can affect both children diagnosed with allergic asthma, especially if the disease is not kept under control, and those with pollen allergies who have not previously been diagnosed with asthma.
Doctors’ recommendations
During storms, they may first develop severe respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing and feeling suffocated.
“When a storm is forecast, the recommendation for parents of children allergic to pollen or diagnosed with asthma is to close the windows and keep the little ones inside. The child must follow the prescribed treatment and have the indicated medication on hand for situations where symptoms worsen.
The control treatment should not be stopped just because, for a certain period, the child feels well. Precisely its correct administration reduces the risk of a severe crisis”says Prof. Dr. Ioana Ciucă.
Last but not least, doctors warn that climate change may favor the increasingly frequent occurrence of episodes of “storm asthma”by extending the pollination season and increasing the amount of pollen in the air.
They advise parents to seek immediate medical help if a child has difficulty breathing, cannot speak due to shortness of breath, rapid breathing, becomes drowsy, or has bruised lips.
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