The Molecular Allergy Diagnostics conducted at Juaneda Hospitals' Clinical Laboratories, a pioneering initiative, detects 295 allergens and provides a comprehensive and highly precise picture of the allergic patient's sensitization state. This is vital during peak allergy seasons, such as autumn.

“We often think environmental allergies are stronger in spring, but in the Balearic Islands, they are more prevalent in autumn. This is because the most predominant allergy here is caused by dust mites, not pollen, as in other regions of Spain,” explains Dr. Susana Ranea, allergist at Juaneda Hospitals.

She adds: “The seasonal shift from summer to autumn creates conditions that favor the proliferation of mites due to falling temperatures. Additionally, people spend more hours indoors, leading to greater exposure since mites are absent in outdoor environments.”

Dust mite allergies "affect one in ten children, with symptoms often coinciding with the start of school. The drop in temperatures, combined with children spending more time indoors and interacting with peers, which facilitates the spread of viruses, increases the vulnerability of allergic individuals to asthma attacks," she explains.

The allergist emphasizes that “children should undergo check-ups during this time of year. Allergic processes can escalate quickly. Just this week, I have seen patients whose rhinitis symptoms (sneezing and nasal congestion) progressed within 24 hours, potentially leading to cough and bronchitis as temperatures drop.”

These initial symptoms “may go unnoticed, resembling a common cold, but people without fever who show cold-like symptoms during these weeks could very well be allergic to dust mites,” the specialist points out, stressing the importance of consulting a specialist in such cases.

“Another allergen that causes issues during this season, depending on rainfall, is humidity-related mold, which behaves like pollen. Its spores can be detected in the outdoor air and indoor environments. Those allergic to mold may exhibit the same symptoms as pollen allergies.”

Symptoms of mold allergies “include rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma. Mold spores float in open spaces, are inhaled, and trigger symptoms after exposure,” explains Dr. Ranea.

“Humidity-related mold allergies can also occur indoors, appearing as black spots of mold in homes, behind furniture, in bathrooms, due to leaks, on plants, or from water infiltration,” she says, providing tips to identify and prevent these sources.

“Using dehumidifiers and thorough cleaning to eliminate mold on walls or behind furniture is advisable in such cases,” she notes. For dust mites, "a proper diagnosis is key, which is why visiting an allergist these days for a study is highly useful, especially for those starting to experience symptoms."

The allergist will perform tests and, if a dust mite allergy is confirmed, recommend preventive treatments. “Mites,” explains Dr. Ranea, “persist throughout the winter, with their concentration decreasing in summer. Many patients, therefore, do not experience bronchitis symptoms during that season.”

“Statistically, one in ten children in classrooms is allergic, meaning around three children in each class may have various episodes of asthma bronchitis annually due to allergies, many of whom are unaware of it,” the specialist highlights, stressing the need for treatment to manage this condition and prevent other complications.

Dr. Ranea emphasizes that “there are highly effective treatments, such as vaccines for dust mite allergies, which are safe and scientifically proven to deliver extraordinary results, preventing asthma crises.” Vaccines can “stop rhinitis from progressing to asthma, which is very important.”

Sneezing and itchy eyes during autumn “could indicate a dust mite allergy that, if left untreated, may later lead to recurrent bronchitis and asthma. The vaccine alleviates symptoms and prevents disease progression.” Dr. Ranea underscores the importance of preventive treatments.

“These treatments go beyond curative measures by preventing disease progression. Base treatments, which many patients may need to start now, will be adjusted throughout the year based on humidity and temperature levels.”

The Clinical Analysis Laboratory at Juaneda Hospitals, directed by Dr. Laura García Ferragut, has pioneered the implementation of cutting-edge Molecular Allergy Diagnostics technology in the Balearic Islands. This innovation improves allergy patient management, enabling tailored therapies and more personalized medicine.

The new Molecular Allergy Diagnostics, based on microarray technology and now available exclusively at Juaneda Hospitals in the Balearic Islands, detects 295 allergens, allowing for tailored therapies and personalized medicine. This reduces discomfort for highly sensitive patients and improves their quality of life.

With this system, Juaneda Hospitals strengthens its commitment to technological innovation and cutting-edge advancements through its Clinical Analysis Laboratory and allergology services, offering patients highly personalized, state-of-the-art medical care.

This diagnostic method is the most precise and comprehensive known to date. It identifies a patient’s sensitivity to a panel of 295 allergens and measures total IgE (immunoglobulin E), an antibody produced by the immune system in response to external threats.

This test does not require the suspension of allergy medication (unlike skin sensitivity tests) and only involves a single blood draw, without fasting. It reduces the number of current tests, as one blood sample provides results for 295 allergens.

This test is not only recommended for patients with high skin sensitivity but also for those with multiple allergies, chronic urticaria, unexplained anaphylaxis, and eosinophilic esophagitis, according to clinical sources at Juaneda Hospitals.

Juaneda Hospitals’ commitment to personalized medicine, tailored to each patient, makes this the only test on the market covering nearly 100% of globally relevant allergens in a single assay. It provides the most accurate and realistic representation of a patient’s sensitization state.

This diagnostic tool gives specialists a detailed map of the patient’s sensitization state, helping them determine the severity of possible exposures, tailor diets by avoiding unnecessary restrictions, and establish customized immunotherapy (allergy vaccines).

The Molecular Allergy Diagnostics detects sensitivities to pollens, mites, insects and their venoms, parasites, animal- and plant-based foods, pet epithelia, and occupational allergens such as latex, according to the same sources.