Recently, in at least six provinces and cities in mainland China including Shanxi, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, patients with rhinitis and allergies suddenly experienced chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and even asthma symptoms, requiring urgent visits to hospitals. As a result, hospitals were overwhelmed, with some unable to accommodate more patients, and there were unfortunate deaths reported. The official explanation was “thunderstorm asthma,” causing widespread panic among the public.
Many people questioned why they had not heard of this before and why it was happening everywhere this year. Speculations abounded, and everyone was eager to understand the underlying reasons behind this phenomenon.
Shanxi was the first place in mainland China where thunderstorm asthma was reported by official media. On the night of September 8, the Emergency Department of Baqiao Hospital in Shanxi saw a sudden surge of patients, with over 400 patients treated in just a few hours, including mostly children, pregnant women, and young adults. Taxi drivers in the area mentioned that most of the patients they transported to the emergency room were experiencing asthma symptoms, and some were in a state of shock.
A popular Douyin influencer in the region with nearly 600,000 followers posted a video on September 9, stating that “all hospitals in Shanxi are full due to thunderstorm asthma,” emphasizing that “most are children, including boarding students, entire classes of students have come.”
The official cooperation account of Global Geography, “Global Weather Official,” also posted a video on Douyin, reporting a collective outbreak of thunderstorm asthma in Taiyuan, leading to overcrowding in almost all hospitals in the city.
A local patient shared with a reporter from Dajiyuan on September 13, stating that they had symptoms several days prior and had to undergo nebulization with oxygen, which significantly improved their condition. They mentioned having bronchial asthma and pneumonia and were planning to be admitted to the hospital for further evaluation.
According to public information in mainland China, thunderstorm asthma is a special type of bronchial asthma that refers to acute asthma attacks or exacerbations occurring during thunderstorm weather or immediately following it. The occurrence typically requires three factors: thunderstorm weather, high environmental pollen concentrations, and allergic predisposition.
Typical symptoms include sudden wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and other asthma symptoms during or shortly after thunderstorms, with severe cases leading to respiratory distress or failure.
In Inner Mongolia, due to the prevalence of Artemisia plants, allergic conditions have been severe every year, including this year. Discussions in online emergency asthma groups on the night of September 12 indicated that hospitals in Inner Mongolia were overcrowded with asthma patients seeking emergency care, with one patient sharing their experience of barely being able to secure a hospital appointment and having to urgently purchase a bronchodilator from the pharmacy to avoid suffocation.
Patients also mentioned experiencing symptoms mainly at night, resorting to self-medicating before seeking hospital care due to reports of hospitals being fully booked.
A healthcare worker in the region corroborated the situation, recounting their firsthand experience with a sudden influx of children experiencing respiratory distress following a thunderstorm, which required urgent nebulization. The abundance of Artemisia plants in Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi regions, coupled with high pollen concentrations in the air during thunderstorm weather, can trigger acute asthma episodes.
A seasoned patient from Inner Mongolia recommended the use of orally administered steroids prescribed by a doctor to prevent bronchospasm, noting the importance of being proactive in managing symptoms brought on by thunderstorm asthma.
Some patients mentioned developing asthma symptoms for the first time this year, with several individuals from Inner Mongolia expressing that symptoms started worsening from mid-August. They resorted to leaving the area until early October to avoid the exacerbated allergic reactions prevalent during this period.
Another resident from Inner Mongolia recalled a near-fatal experience during thunderstorm weather the previous month, necessitating oxygen therapy at an emergency room and continued medication use to manage the condition.
Contrary to the situation in Shanxi, residents in Inner Mongolia reported a month-long surge in respiratory distress cases, indicating prolonged ongoing symptoms for many patients.
A doctor from Ningxia disclosed on social media on September 12 that their hospital received over 600 patients seeking emergency care for respiratory distress, with 57 patients seen in the respiratory outpatient department, 236 in pediatrics, and 14 in obstetrics and gynecology, totaling 907 patients. Forty-two of these patients required immediate admission.
On September 11, a woman from Ningxia expressed astonishment at the sudden increase in asthma cases, noting that the condition was previously unheard of in the region. She described experiencing mild discomfort, shortness of breath, and observing numerous instances of severe asthma attacks among those around her in the crowded emergency room.
Ms. Ma from Ningxia recounted experiencing sudden chest tightness, shortness of breath, and chest pain two days prior, initially attributing the symptoms to her spouse.
A social media user from Ningxia described feeling unwell following a strong wind, leading to breathing difficulties and throat discomfort, reflective of the challenging circumstances accompanying the prevailing weather conditions.
Concerns were also raised regarding the effectiveness of prescribed medications, with individuals sharing their struggles with persistent symptoms despite treatment, highlighting the inadequacy of traditional management approaches in alleviating thunderstorm asthma exacerbations.
In Beijing, several top-tier hospitals, including Chaoyang Hospital and Peking University People’s Hospital, reported a significant influx of patients presenting with asthma and respiratory distress following thunderstorms, prompting healthcare professionals to caution the public about the association with “thunderstorm asthma.”
On September 13, a woman from Beijing sought advice on social media regarding her condition, expressing ongoing respiratory difficulties despite medication usage, inquiring about the inexplicable shortness of breath and chest tightness persisting even indoors and leading to involuntary coughing bouts during deep inhalation. Her detailed description indicated challenges in managing symptoms despite treatment adherence.
Residents from Beijing echoed similar struggles with managing asthma symptoms, sharing their experiences with a range of medications, including bronchodilators, but facing persistent respiratory distress upon exposure to external allergens.
Following thunderstorm weather on the 9th, a supplier in Beijing, Mr. Yu, narrated his spouse’s sudden onset of breathing difficulties and their rush to seek emergency medical care, noting the prevalence of respiratory distress cases among other individuals at nearby hospitals. Prompt nebulization using anti-allergic medications provided rapid relief, enabling them to rest comfortably.
In another account from a Beijing resident, severe nasal congestion and respiratory distress led to a distressing episode during the rainy night, resonating with widespread reports of escalating allergic reactions and asthma exacerbations during thunderstorms.
Pregnant women in Beijing also shared their alarming experiences, detailing sudden onset of asthma symptoms following a brief shower, requiring multiple administrations of corticosteroids and bronchodilators to manage breathing difficulties.
Reports from ICU admissions highlighted the severity of the situation, exemplified by a colleague’s child requiring intensive care due to acute asthma exacerbations.
Besides Beijing, neighboring regions such as Tianjin and Hebei also observed a surge in similar respiratory distress cases among affected individuals.
A wellness blogger from Tianjin recounted their distressing episode following the onset of thunderstorm weather, highlighting an intense respiratory reaction, throat discomfort, and the reactive measures undertaken to alleviate breathing difficulties.
Residents from Hebei voiced concerns over unexpected asthma episodes experienced during the mornings, with some attributing the sudden distress to seasonal allergies and respiratory challenges.
Similar accounts of prolonged asthma battles surfaced, with individuals highlighting the persistent nature of symptoms amid escalating allergic reactions and worsening respiratory ailments.
Amidst the nationwide reports of “thunderstorm asthma” outbreaks this year, widespread skepticism emerged among the public, questioning the sudden prevalence of this phenomenon across various regions and the lack of prior awareness about its occurrence.
Residents from different provinces avowed their personal encounters with escalating respiratory issues, attributing prolonged allergic reactions, nasal congestion, and persistent coughs to environmental triggers during autumn months.
Reflecting on unusual occurrences and speculative theories, individuals postulated on potential links between weather modification practices, dry conditions, and airborne irritants invoking allergic responses, underscoring the need for further research and public awareness regarding thunderstorm asthma outbreaks.
Revelations from a resident in Henan highlighted the emergence of numerous transparent flying insects outdoors, reminiscent of mass sightings reported by individuals in other provinces, sparking discussions on the unanticipated rise in novel environmental factors contributing to health challenges.
Addressing the evolving landscape of respiratory ailments, medical professionals and individuals emphasized the role of respiratory viruses, post-COVID complications, and environmental alterations in triggering or exacerbating asthma-like symptoms, necessitating tailored interventions and heightened vigilance towards respiratory health amidst changing environmental conditions.
Previously in July, patients reported contracting “cough variant asthma” before the widespread mention of “thunderstorm asthma,” further illustrating the dynamic nature of respiratory health challenges amid evolving environmental conditions.
The global prevalence of “epidemic thunderstorm asthma” events in different regions over the past decades, as documented in academic journals such as “The Lancet Respiratory Medicine,” underscored the complex interplay of environmental factors, allergic predisposition, and respiratory distress patterns during thunderstorm events, necessitating comprehensive research and community engagement to address the public health implications of such phenomena.