Understanding allergies to better prevent them

For about twenty years, Israeli doctors have been warning about a phenomenon that has become impossible to ignore: the explosion of allergies in the country. Whether it is pollen, pollution particles, mosquitoes, mold, or even certain foods, more and more people are developing reactions that disrupt their daily lives. The fundamental question now is to understand why Israel is experiencing such an intensification of allergies.

AI Index: Mediterranean Knowledge Library
Understanding allergies to better prevent them 
22-med – December 2025
• Dry climate, air pollution, and rapid urbanization make Israel a particularly conducive territory for the development of allergies.
• Respiratory, food, and skin allergies are on the rise, especially among children, posing an increasing public health challenge.
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Israel has transitioned, in the span of a generation, from being a relatively stable Mediterranean country environmentally to a true natural laboratory. For it expresses the perfect combination of all known aggravating factors in the scientific world.

A recent study conducted on nearly two thousand patients suffering from allergic rhinitis showed that more than three-quarters of them had a sensitivity to dust mites. Following that were tree pollen (including olive, which is prevalent), grasses, and cat hair. Doctors who have been monitoring these trends since the 1990s also note a worrying trend of younger cases, as more than 40% of adolescents already exhibit symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

Factors such as urbanization, lifestyle changes, and environmental modifications have likely contributed to this increase. Furthermore, the most common allergies include pollen, dust mites, and food products,” observes Dorit Grinberg, CEO of MDS Pharm, a company that has developed a small device that allows for rapid allergy treatment.