Thunderstorm asthma can affect children who have never had asthma

What the research found

The Royal Children's Hospital's fact sheet says people who have never had asthma before can get thunderstorm asthma, and that any child can get it. It says children with asthma or hay fever are more likely to be affected. It describes the condition as rare, but sudden, serious and potentially life-threatening.

Victoria's Better Health guidance says the tiny pollen particles released in a storm can rapidly trigger asthma symptoms, even in people who have never had asthma. A respiratory specialist explains that people with hay fever and a rye grass allergy may have their first-ever asthma episode during such an event.

Research backs up the wider picture. A 2020 review says thunderstorm asthma events cause a big rise in asthma presentations and can overwhelm local services. After the Melbourne event in November 2016, more than 3500 patients were treated in hospitals and 10 died. A 2019 survey of healthcare workers looked at milder symptoms in people not seen in emergency departments.

What it doesn’t mean

• Most of the evidence on people with no asthma history comes from official guidance and expert opinion, not from studies counting children specifically. It does not say how often this happens in children.
• Thunderstorm asthma is not common, and not every thunderstorm causes it, even when pollen counts are high. Children with asthma or hay fever remain at higher risk.
• If your child has hay fever, or has wheezed or been short of breath, talk to your GP about prevention. Call 000 straight away if your child struggles to breathe or talk.