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VENABLES, K. M. ; ALLITT, U. ; COLLIER, C. G. ; [et al.]

Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Clinical & experimental allergy 27 (1997), S. 0

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ISSN: 1365-2222

Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Topics: Medicine

Notes: Background A large epidemic of asthma occurred following a thunderstorm in southern and central England on 24/25 June 1994. A collaborative study group was formed.Objectives To describe the epidemic and the meteorological, aerobiological and other environmental characteristics associated with it.Methods Collation of data from the Meteorological Office, the Pollen Research Unit, the Department of the Environtnent's Automatic Urban Network, from health surveillance by the Department of Health and the National Poisons Unit, from clinical experience in general practice and hospitals, and from an immunological study of some of the affected cases from north east London.Results The thunderstorm was a Mesoscale Convective System, an unusual and large form of storm with several centres and severe wind gusts. It occurred shortly after the peak grass pollen concentration in the London area. A sudden and extensive epidemic occurred within about an hour affecting possibly several thousand patients. Emergency services were stretched but the epidemic did not last long. Cases had high serum levels of IgE antibody to mixed grass pollen.Conclusion This study supports the view that patients with specific IgE to grass pollen are at risk of thunderstorm-related asthma. The details of the causal pathway from storm to asthma attack are not clear. Case-control and time series studies are being carried out.

Type of Medium: Electronic Resource

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2222.1997.790893.x

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Paper (German National Licenses)

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Electronic Resource

Weather conditions prior to major outbreaks of meningococcol meningitis in the United Kingdom (1992)

Collier, C. G.

Springer

International journal of biometeorology 36 (1992), S. 18-29

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ISSN: 1432-1254

Keywords: Meningococcal meningitis ; Trajectories ; Air quality ; Causal conditions ; Relative humidity gradients

Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Topics: Geography , Physics

Notes: Abstract Meningitis has been a notifiable disease in the United Kingdom for some 70 years. Only in recent years, stimulated by the work of the Meningitis Trust, has there been a more general awareness of the geographical distribution of cases, with certain locations being more prone than others to episodic outbreaks of the disease. In this paper we consider weather conditions prior to major outbreaks of meningitis in Hereford and Worcester, and Cleveland and the northwest Midlands. Possible causal links to air quality and large temporal changes of relative humidity are found from analysis of case data. However, whilst the diagnostic studies reported are encouraging, an independent test of the relative humidity gradient criterion using independent data for Gloucester was not successful. It is clear that meteorological and air quality data actually of the area from which the disease is reported must be analysed more fully to sustain or overrule the hypothesis proposed. In addition, the need for further clinical research into the likelihood of disease triggers generated by atmospheric smoke, dust and moisture is identified.