The millions of allergy sufferers will have already noticed it. When years ago, the symptoms of your allergy (conjunctivitis, rhinitis, hives, asthma...) lasted between one or two months, they now last up to six months. One of the causes is climate change, which is behind a greater release of pollen. Furthermore, where before you were allergic to a certain allergen, you are now allergic to many. The WHO estimates that in 25 years, half of the world's population in developed countries will have some allergy.
In Spain, one in four people will suffer from an allergy throughout their life. Currently, in our country allergic rhinitis affects 21% of the population; bronchial asthma, which is already the most common chronic childhood disease, in 10% of children under 10 years of age; atopic dermatitis, 4% of school-age children; and food allergies, around 4% of the child population and almost 2% of adults, according to 'The Book of Allergic Diseases', prepared by almost a hundred specialists.
"The influence of climate change and pollution has caused a greater intensity and duration of pollination, which translates into an increase in sensitization and polysensitization," says Ignacio Dávila, president of the Spanish Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC). , an entity that these days is holding its biannual congress in Santiago de Compostela and among the topics to be discussed is the increase in allergies as a result of climate change.
The WHO points to pollen as responsible for most respiratory allergies. Rising temperatures cause the pollen season to come earlier and longer. Air pollutants increase the allergenic load due to pollen and change the composition of allergens. By changing the situation of the flora, the pollen in the air increases more. This situation can affect people who are susceptible to the development of allergies, especially children.
But not only respiratory and food allergies have increased. Carmen Vidal, member of the SEAIC, points out that “in recent years an exponential increase in sensitization to Hymenoptera venom has also been observed. Specifically, the Asian wasp is responsible for 70% of anaphylaxis due to stings from this type of insect.”
Faced with this situation, the allergists attending the XXIV National Congress of the SEAIC focus on the arrival of innovative treatments that allow a complete change in the therapeutic landscape and on the optimization of the approach to allergic diseases.
The increasing complexity of allergic diseases makes it essential to offer the patient a comprehensive approach. “Multidisciplinary allergy care is the path we must follow to optimize the health outcomes of patients and the costs for the health system,” explains Alicia Habernau, member of the SEAIC Scientific Committee.
This is why, within the framework of its XXIV National Congress, the SEAIC focuses on the cooperation of different medical specialties in the management of allergic diseases. In this line, nursing stands out for playing an essential role in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and management of these pathologies. “The Allergology Nursing Committee will carry out a large number of updated sessions and workshops aimed at the specialization and development of this group of professionals who work hand in hand with allergists in the care of allergic patients,” emphasizes Habernau.
