Allergies already affect 25% of the Andalusian population and continue to rise.

The prevalence of respiratory allergic diseases (rhinitis and asthma) in Andalusia is high, between 20 and 25% of the population, according to the Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology; a worrying fact considering that it is increasing year after year. Specialists from the hospitals Vithas Granada, Vithas Almería, Vithas Xanit Internacional, Vithas Málaga, and Vithas Sevilla address the challenges of the allergy campaign, marked by high pollen levels.

The allergist from Vithas Xanit Internacional Hospital, Dr. Gonzalo Campos, notes that around 2.5 million Andalusians suffer from some type of allergy, a figure that reflects the significant impact of these pathologies in the health sector and that could reach up to 50% of the European population by 2050. The specialist emphasizes the need for the allergic patient to always be evaluated by an allergist, due to the diagnostic and therapeutic complexity of these diseases, which, although treatable and controllable—and even reversible in some cases—always require a specialized approach and appropriate treatments.

The effect of rain on pollination

Dr. Julián López Caballero, allergist at Vithas Granada, explains the impact of rain on pollination in Andalusia. Although it temporarily reduced the airborne pollen, after stopping there was a pollen burst with quite high levels in places like Granada capital and its metropolitan area, one of the areas with the highest cypress pollination in Spain, where there has been a delay in pollination this year due to the rains in January and February.

Rain favors the growth of all plants, especially grasses, which increases the production of pollens and causes an increase in allergic symptoms. If this is compounded by rising temperatures, "the risk multiplies", especially when the olive tree pollination occurs, which can overlap with the grasses, generating high levels of pollen in the air and an increase in allergic symptoms. Therefore, it is key that patients have their anti-allergic medication ready and follow-up by their specialist.

Dr. Andrés Muro, an allergology specialist at Vithas Sevilla Hospital, details the pollen calendar in western Andalusia. The cupressaceae start the season with intense pollination in January and February; followed by the London plane in March; the grasses extend from March to June and are one of the most relevant allergens; and finally the olive tree, a key player in May and June, along with the grasses, as one of the main causes of symptoms. To minimize the effects, especially during Holy Week, he recommends the use of FFP2 masks and sunglasses to protect the oculonasal and bronchial areas.

Increase in Emergency Room Visits

Dr. Inmaculada Úbeda, head of emergency at Vithas Almería Hospital, explains that with the arrival of spring, it is common to see an increase in emergency room visits for allergies, especially in patients with intense or poorly controlled respiratory symptoms. Among the most frequent are nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy eyes and throat, tearing, cough or breathing difficulties, although asthma crises or intense urticaria may also appear.

At this time of year, pollen allergies in Almería are predominant, so she recommends following the prescribed treatment, avoiding exposure during peak concentration hours, and going to the emergency room in case of rapid worsening or severe symptoms. Additionally, she notes that each year new allergic patients without previous history appear.

Common Symptoms and Impact on Rest

Dr. José Manuel Barceló, allergist at Vithas Málaga Hospital, highlights that the high concentration of pollens in spring—especially from olive, grasses, and cypress—affects sleep quality, causing nighttime awakenings, fatigue, and irritability.

In patients with allergic asthma, symptoms can intensify at night, increasing the sensation of suffocation or nighttime cough, which worsens the disruption of rest. Therefore, he insists on a comprehensive approach to allergies, including sleep. Treatment with personalized specific immunotherapy, based on a molecular study, can lead to a significant improvement and even cure of symptoms.