Allergy websites experienced a significant surge in traffic during April, with a 2.3-fold increase compared to previous months.
Extended Pollen Season This Spring Leads to Increased Pollen Allergy Concerns in the Sverdlovsk Region
Unusual temperature fluctuations during the current spring season have prompted higher-than-average interest among allergy sufferers in Sverdlovsk. According to anonymized data from telecom provider MegaFon, traffic to websites monitoring pollen concentrations has been steadily increasing in the region since mid-April, peaking at the end of the month with a 2.3-fold increase.
Residents of Sverdlovsk generated considerable traffic on webpages offering disease symptoms, treatment methods, and expert advice, placing the region in the top 10 with the highest such interest in Russia during April. On April 24, traffic spiked 2.5 times the average monthly value. These specialized resources help allergy-prone individuals track the level of pollen in the air and manage their symptoms accordingly.
Data compiled by healthcare company SberZdorovye shows that consultations with allergists and telemedicine appointments rose by 32% nationwide from March to mid-May 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The peak of appointments remained in April for both years.
In 2025, residents of Sochi, Moscow, Veliky Novgorod, and Saransk were the most frequent visitors to allergists, while in 2024, this distinction belonged to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, and Kazan.
A closer examination of the data reveals that patients under 18 accounted for 38% of demand in 2025, showing a noticeable increase from the 32% share observed in 2024. According to Dr. Darja Chernushkevich, an allergist-immunologist at SberZdorovye, this increase is attributed to seasonal allergies often appearing for the first time in childhood or adolescence, although they can also appear in adulthood. The next most frequent age groups were 25-34, 18-24, 35-44, 45-60, and 60+.
The rise in pollen allergy cases and telemedicine consultations can be attributed to several factors. Climate change and environmental changes, such as warmer temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, are extending pollen seasons and intensifying pollen concentrations. Moreover, increased awareness, better diagnostics, and the expansion of telemedicine services have resulted in more people seeking treatment for their pollen allergies.
Telemedicine offers considerable advantages for allergy sufferers, as it reduces barriers like travel time and exposure risks while providing timely, convenient access to healthcare. Additionally, real-time pollen forecasts and personalized advice from integrated digital tools help manage symptoms more effectively.
While regional data specific to 2024-2025 for Sverdlovsk and Russia were not available, these factors are consistent with global trends in allergy incidence and telemedicine growth. For a more detailed understanding of the regional impact on allergy-prone individuals, studies from Russian health authorities and allergy clinics are needed.
- With the extended pollen season, there is a growing interest in medical-conditions related to pollen allergies in the health-and-wellness sector, as evidenced by the increased traffic to pollen monitoring websites in the Sverdlovsk region.
- Fitness-and-exercise routines are not the only focus for health-conscious individuals in Sverdlovsk, as mental-health resources and skin-care tutorials have also seen a spike in interest due to their relevance to overall well-being.
- The rise in pollen allergy cases in Sverdlovsk is not just a local phenomenon, as nutrition and allergy consultations have increased nationwide, with a 32% rise from March to mid-May 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
- The nutrition industry, including fitness-and-exercise, skin-care, and mental-health sectors, could potentially benefit from the increased focus on well-being from pollen allergy sufferers, as timely, convenient, and integrated digital tools can help manage symptoms and improve overall health.
