Thunderstorm asthma

If you've lived through a Melbourne spring you know it isn't as simple as spring weather. We get a slight raise in temperature post winter (otherwise known as Fool's Spring), before plummeting to the depths of despair for a Second Winter.  We then enter the Spring of Deception and The Swooping (hopefully you have stayed safe from the magpies and hooded plovers), before falling headfirst (or should it be nose first) into The Pollening.

This is, of course, not an official season. But we have all noticed an increase in grass pollen levels, whether it be from extra sneezes, stronger hay fever symptoms, or an increase in asthma symptoms.

This increase in seasonal asthma and hay fever also brings an escalated risk of thunderstorm asthma. Thunderstorm asthma is triggered by a combination of higher grass pollen levels and a certain type of thunderstorm. 

Thunderstorm asthma can occur even in people who have never had asthma before.

To protect yourself and your family this pollen season:

• Monitor the thunderstorm asthma risk forecast, and adjust your day to make sure you avoid being outdoors when the storm arrives. You can do this from the VicEmergency App or the Vic Emergency thunderstorm asthma forecast webpage
• Avoid being outdoors during a thunderstorm and the winds before it. Stay indoors and make sure all doors and windows are closed. Turn off any air conditioners and evaporative air coolers in the home and car which bring air inside from outside. 
• Take any preventative medication for hayfever or asthma as directed, even if you are symptom free
• Know how to manage an asthma attack.

When to get help

Call an ambulance (000) if:

• your child is struggling to breathe
• your child is blue around the lips, drowsy or having trouble talking in sentences

Go to hospital is:

• your child is upset, tired or limp with breathing that is fast or noisy
• your child makes deep sucking movements in their throat or chest as they breahte
• your child needs to use their asthma reliever medicine at home more than every three hours

See a doctor or health professional if:

• your child is working harder to breathe than normal
• your child has symptoms of thunderstorm asthma, but they don't have a hay fever treatment plan or an Asthma Action Plan

Look after your child at home if:

• they have a hay fever treatment plan or an Asthma Action Plan that is helping to manage their symptoms
• their symptoms get better when they stay indoors on high-pollen days
• they only need to use their asthma reliever medicine every three to four hours and are otherwise well

For more information visit https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/thunderstorm_asthma/