SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 200412/27/04
Seasonal patterns of Emergency Department treatment of acute asthma
Summary
Background – It has been known that there are seasonal trends in the occurrence of acute asthma exacerbations (AAE) requiring treatment in Emergency Depts (ED). But is there a consistent temporal pattern from year to year in the same locale?Findings – Silverman et al of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY reviewed 673,141 visits to the ED of 11 New York hospitals for AAE. They found that the peak incidence of such ED visits was in the autumn with the lowest frequency in the early summer. Such seasonal variations were greatest in children ages 5-13 years.
Reference
Ann Emerg Med 2003;42:577-86Editor's Comments
The authors of this report could not come up with one definitive explanation for this temporal pattern of AAE occurrence. Exposure to pollens and molds whose levels are highest in the early autumn may certainly be a major factor in those highly allergic to these aeroallergens. The surge of rhinovirus infections after the beginning of the school year in September, well known to trigger AAE, particularly in conjunction with aeroallergen exposure, could be another major factor. Also, the increased time spent indoors with associated increased exposure to indoor aeroallergens may also be a factor.
