Exacerbation of asthma by Florida "red tide" during an ocean sailing trip.
A 36-year-old man with adult-onset nonallergic triad asthma developed acute bronchospasm and copious sputum production during an offshore sailing excursion on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Symptoms were linked to proximity to blooms of the marine dinoflagellate Karenia brevis (red tide) and heavy aerosolized brevetoxin exposure, and symptoms recurred during rechallenge. Patients with respiratory disease who are planning a visit to red tide-prone seaside areas should be cautioned to bring their pulmonary medications, and clinicians should be aware that reactive airway symptoms may be triggered by exposure to red tide.
Steensma
David P
DP
Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. steensma.david@mayo.edu
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D002922:Ciguatoxins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D014195:Travel