Learning From 2016 And 2010: Risk And Resources For Thunderstorm Asthma In Melbourne

30 second read For a description of this syndrome and explanation of weather maps, see previous post. High risk: Mid-October to Mid-December, highest risk in November Spring hay fever Usually past or present asthma, or very slight chest symptoms in spring, often disregarded. Many have NO past history of asthma or chest symptoms Weather patterns […]

Can We Predict Thunderstorm Asthma In Melbourne?

  4 minute read What is thunderstorm asthma? Thunderstorm asthma is a rare dramatic onset of severe asthma in pollen allergic people during the pollen season. How long have we known about it? This syndrome is well-documented in the allergy literature, with original observations done 25 years ago. Thunderstorm asthma has occurred four times in […]

Allergy vaccines – previously only by injection, now an oral vaccine is available!!

Allergy vaccines (also called allergen immunotherapy) WORK REALLY WELL – but you’ve got to have five things just right – the right disease the right allergy the right vaccine the right reason the right precautions Let’s talk about about these five things. The right disease means hay fever or nose/sinus conditions or asthma caused by […]

Dust Mite

The dust mite is a tiny bug. It is a member or the spider and tick family. There are numerous types of mite, but the domestic dust mite which has been linked to allergy likes to live in beds and carpets. It won’t bite you, but it excretes very fine droppings which are HIGHLY ALLERGIC to […]

Hay Fever

If you think about it, hay fever is a strange term…it’s not usually due to hay (although it can be), and there is no fever or elevation of body temperature. The origin of the name is historical. Early in the 19th Century, it was noted that some people living in the British countryside developed sneezing, […]

Pollens

Grass and tree pollens are a major cause of allergy in Australia. About 30% of the population is allergic to these tiny packets of concentrated protein which are so light that they are carried by the wind. These pollens cause seasonal hay fever and seasonal asthma. Which season? Usually spring and early summer, but in […]