Patterns in Google Trends Terms Reporting Rhinitis and Ragweed Pollen Season in Ukraine

Abstract

Background: Google Trends (GT) may represent a new approach to assessing pollen allergy. However, the development of a pan-European sentinel network has raised a problem of translating terms in different languages. A precise definition of the pollen season onset is crucial for the confirmation of a pollen allergy diagnosis and personalized treatment. Ragweed pollen allergy was investigated due to its high allergenicity and wide expansion in Europe. Objectives: The study aimed to examine translations of “ragweed” and “hay fever” in native Cyrillic languages, especially in Ukrainian and Russian, and to compare the seasonality of queries in Ukraine with ragweed and mugwort pollen counts. Methods: We used GT to search Google queries concerning ragweed allergy: “allergy,” “hay fever,” “running nose,” “ragweed,” “asthma,” and “pollen.” The Cyrillic terms in Ukrainian and Russian were used. Pollen collection for 2013–2015 was conducted using volumetric methods. Average daily temperatures were obtained from the website http://gismeteo.ua. Correlations were studied by using Pearson and Spearman tests. Results: GT queries profile had the “B” pattern according to the classification developed by Bousquet et al. [Allergy. 2017 Aug; 72(8): 1261–6]. A peak of “ragweed” queries was observed after the maximum of average daily temperature. The terms “allergy,” “hay fever,” and “ragweed” in Cyrillic are required in Ukraine to calculate the ragweed pollen exposure by GT. The ragweed pollen season started with a concentration of pollen grains of 12.95 m^–3. The Artemisia pollen season started between 19 and 25 days before the beginning of the Ambrosia pollen season. Conclusions: GT may be a useful tool in the differentiation of the pollen seasons, especially when they overlap as in the case of Arte misia/Ambrosia. Three terms, “allergy,” “hay fever,” and “ragweed” (in Cyrillic equivalents), are required in Ukraine to account for ragweed pollen exposure. The combination of GT tools with pollen counts may be used in large-scale epidemiological studies.

Assessment of Google Trends terms reporting allergies and the grass pollen season in Ukraine

“…The query statistics for "hay fever" were assessed by the Cyrillic equivalent of "runny nose". 8 The peaks for "hay fever" and "pollen" were lower than those for "asthma". Thus, Ukraine had the "D" pattern.…”

“…Our previous study showed that Ukrainian Google users apply the GT query "runny nose" ("nasmork" in Cyrillic) as "hay fever". 8 Recent investigations showed that Ukrainian users apply the GT query "travy" (in Cyrillic) as "grass". Thus, in further analysis, this Cyrillic equivalent was used.…”

“…[4][5][6][7] This approach has raised the problem of translating Google search terms into different European languages, especially, into Cyrillic alphabet-based languages. 8 The correct translation is important for the development and functioning of a pan-European sentinel network for seasonal allergic diseases. 9 For further development of this approach, Google search profiles were assessed for allergic rhinitis and related topics for grass (Poaceae) pollen allergy.…”

“… 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 This approach has raised the problem of translating Google search terms into different European languages, especially, into Cyrillic alphabet-based languages. 8 The correct translation is important for the development and functioning of a pan-European sentinel network for seasonal allergic diseases. 9 …”

A demonstration project of Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Prediction of interactions between air pollution and allergen exposure—the Mobile Airways Sentinel NetworK-Impact of air POLLution on Asthma and Rhinitis approach

“…[ 73 ] The term “ragweed” is mostly used in native languages whereas the direct translations by GTs are sometimes incorrect. [ 75 ] The “ragweed” queries were also visible during spring and summer, indicating that the tree and grass pollen allergy in spring may be perceived as “ragweed.” As a result, the ragweed season found by GTs is far longer than the measured pollen season. [ 76 ]…”