2 To overcome these, we analyzed daily emergency department (ED) visits for asthma along with high-resolution climate data in all 64 parishes (small geographical units similar to a county) in Louisiana 2010 through 2012. Studies investigating outbreaks of thunderstorm asthma over the past few decades have had limitations, including small sample sizes of thunderstorm days and low spatial resolution of climate data (i.e., applying same climate data to the large area). 9 Increases in respirable bioaerosols (cytoplasmic granules of pollens or fungal spores), along with sudden changes in climate conditions, including electrical fields during or after thunderstorms, are considered a potential mechanism for thunderstorm-related asthma outbreaks. 9, 10 Surface temperature can drop suddenly with falling precipitation and cold downdrafts during the formation of thunderstorms. 3, 7, 8 All thunderstorms have lightning, and most in North America are short-lived (within a couple of hours from development to dissipation), sometimes producing heavy precipitation and strong wind gusts. Some evidence indicates the frequency of severe thunderstorms is likely to increase in the future with global climate change. 6 However, thunderstorm asthma is not thought to lead to development of new asthma cases rather, it is an exacerbation of existing asthma and in some cases, patients with seasonal rhinitis can have asthma attacks.

3, 7 After the severe thunderstorm event, those who had asthma and hay fever also reported respiratory distress. 4– 6 The most recent severe outbreak was in 2016 in Melbourne, Australia, resulting in > 8,500 patients with severe asthma attacks, 35 patients admitted to intensive care, and 10 deaths. 1– 3 Thunderstorm asthma was first recognized in early 1980s in the United Kingdom. In the United States, thunderstorm asthma (asthma attacks associated with thunderstorms) is not a well-studied phenomenon, whereas it is better understood in Europe and Australia.

Define precipitate