Spring has arrived early this year in the Czech Republic, bringing unwelcome news for allergy sufferers. Due to an unusually warm winter, the pollen season kicked off ahead of schedule, with experts noting the first appearance of hazel pollen in lowland areas as early as January.
Climate change is reshaping the allergy landscape across the country. Not only is the pollen season extending, but new allergens are making their presence felt. Ragweed, traditionally found in North America and Southern Europe, has now established itself along railways, roads, and waste sites near major Czech cities like Prague, Brno, and in the Ostrava region.
The numbers tell a concerning story: approximately 370,000 people in the Czech Republic suffer from allergic rhinitis, with women being more frequently affected. The situation is worsening, as evidenced by prescription medication data. While doctors prescribed 820,000 packages of the five most common allergy medications in 2018, this number jumped to 1.3 million packages last year.
For those seeking medical help, the path isn’t easy. Getting an initial appointment with an allergist can take up to three months in most regions, with 43% of doctors unable to schedule new patients any sooner. However, over-the-counter antihistamines remain a viable temporary solution for managing symptoms.
Genetics plays a crucial role in allergy development. Children with one allergic parent face a 40% risk of develo