Differences in Reporting the Ragweed Pollen Season Using Google Trends across 15 Countries

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Epidemiology
• Digital Health

Background:

• Google Trends (GT) offers insights into allergic rhinitis epidemiology by analyzing search query trends.
• This study investigated ragweed pollen allergy trends in the US and EU using Google Trends data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the seasonality of ragweed pollen allergy using Google Trends.
• To determine the optimal search terms for ragweed pollen allergy on Google Trends.
• To compare ragweed pollen allergy search patterns across different countries during pollen seasons.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed Google Trends queries from January 1, 2011, to January 4, 2017, across 15 countries with ragweed pollen seasons.
• Utilized 5-year Google Trends graphs, employing both translated and native language search terms.
• Compared search term performance and identified country-specific variations.

Main Results:

• The term "ragweed" was identifiable in 12 of 15 countries, though search results for "pollen," "ragweed," and "allergy" varied significantly.
• Google Trends translations were inappropriate for several Eastern European countries (Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia).
• Distinct search patterns for "pollen," "hay fever," and "allergy" indicated differing perceptions of tree/grass versus ragweed pollen allergies.

Conclusions:

• Accurate investigation of ragweed pollen allergy via Google Trends necessitates using the specific plant term "ragweed."
• Native language translations of "ragweed" are crucial for reliable cross-country data analysis.
• Understanding search term nuances is vital for interpreting Google Trends data in allergy research.