Allergic diseases have been increasing significantly for decades and have recently stabilized at a high level. According to estimates by the Robert Koch Institute, more than one in five children and around one in three adults suffer from at least one allergic disease. While allergies were still considered rare at the beginning of the 20th century, their number has risen sharply since the 1970s. This trend can be observed in almost all industrialized countries.
What is an allergy?
An allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction of the body. Typical allergens can be pollen, house dust mites, animal hair, food or medication, for example. Symptoms include a runny or blocked nose, watery and itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing, breathing difficulties or skin reactions such as redness, wheals and rashes.
"In particularly severe cases, anaphylactic shock can occur. This maximum hypersensitivity reaction is acutely life-threatening. Carrying emergency medication and an allergy card can save lives," explains Dr. Stephan Döring.
Climate change and environmental factors as drivers
According to Dr. Döring, environmental factors such as air pollutants and the climate play a key role in the increase in allergic diseases such as pollen allergies. Pollen is released almost all year round due to climate change, is in the air for longer and can cause more severe symptoms. Environmental pollutants also have an effect on pollen. "Analyses show that the flowering times have shifted significantly forward in recent decades, with hazel flowering several weeks earlier on average, for example," explains Dr. Döring.
Options for prevention
If an allergy is suspected, testing can be useful. Depending on the triggering allergen, further measures can then provide relief.
For example, once a pollen allergy has been diagnosed, there are various ways to alleviate the symptoms. "Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, medication that suppresses the inflammatory reaction in the body can be taken as required if the symptoms are pronounced; antihistamines are most commonly taken in tablet form or as a nasal spray. The current representatives of the substance classes are generally well tolerated and cause less fatigue than in the past. There is also the option of hyposensitization, which means that the body is gradually accustomed to the allergen so that the symptoms are significantly reduced," explains Dr Döring.
On days with a particularly high pollen count, the public health department recommends that those affected reduce outdoor activities and keep windows closed. The public health department recommends that allergy sufferers inform themselves about the current pollen count. Corresponding pollen count calendars and daily updated data can be accessed via various weather services and allergy apps.
