- D3.510 - Correlation between Emergency visits and Platanus ssp pollen levels in a child population

Respiratory symptoms caused by aeroallergen sensitization are a frequent Emergency Unit assistance in our patients, being Platanus ssp one of the most typical etiologies (typical urban tree in Cordoba). Our objectives were to describe a child population that came to our Pediatric Energency Department referring respiratory and/or cutaneous symptoms with the Platanus ssp pollen levels as the main relationship during its bloom in 2023 and its correlationship with pollen levels during that year. 

Medical reports from child patients (less than 14 years old) with respiratory and/or cutaneous symptoms that came to our Pediatric Emergency Unit at Hospital Quironsalud Cordoba during  Platanus ssp pollen bloom were selected,  looking for a correlationship between pollen levels and total number of patients that were evaluated. We excluded patients with fever, thick mucus or with symptoms related to viral infections. We reviewed these medical reports in our Allergy Department database looking for Platanus acerifolia sensitization.

136 patients (84 males and 52 females; mean age 7,24 years) came to our Pediatric Emergency Department during Platanus ssp bloom in 2023 (1^st March to 20^th April). 53(38,97%) came in March and 83 (61,02%) in April. 75 (55,14%) referred allergic rhinitis and 61 (44,85%) referred asthma, needing 43 (31,61%) several hours in the Observation Unit and 14 (10,29%) several days in the inpatients ward. The days with more pollen concentration showed us more Emergency Unit visits (p<0,05). 96 (70,58%) were diagnosed as allergic rhinitis in our Allergy Department, being in 77 (56,61%) Platanus acerifolia as possible trigger.

• During 2023, the most typical patient that came to our Pediatric Emergency Department was a child (male) with respiratory symptoms and Platanus pollen sensitization.
• There is a great correlationship between Platanus pollen and Emergency Department visits.
• A better knowledge about pollen levels would help us to prevent our patient´s attacks, reducing their visits to Emergency Units.