Public Information Needs and Interest in Specific Food and Drug Allergy Disorders in Germany (2022–2024): Google Search Engine Analysis

TL;DR

This study analyzed Google search data in Germany to understand public interest in food and drug allergies, revealing key trends and information gaps.

Contribution

The study uses Google Ads Keyword Planner to quantify public interest in specific allergies in Germany, identifying key areas for educational intervention.

Findings

The most searched allergy terms were 'histamine allergy', 'penicillin allergy', and 'nut allergy'.

Searches for 'histamine allergy' likely reflect intolerance rather than true allergy.

Seasonal patterns were observed, with higher searches for certain allergies in specific months.

Abstract

The prevalence of food and drug allergies has been steadily increasing in Germany. These conditions not only impair the quality of life of those affected but also place an additional burden on the health care system. At the same time, an increasing number of people are using the internet and other digital sources to seek health-related information.

This study aimed to use the Google Ads Keyword Planner to identify the information needs and knowledge gaps of the internet-using population in Germany and to provide a foundation for future prevention and educational strategies regarding food and drug allergies.

Relevant keywords related to selected food and drug allergies were extracted using the Google Ads Keyword Planner and analyzed according to predefined criteria. The observation period was from September 2022 to October 2024.

A total of 633 keywords related to specific types of food and drug allergies were identified, generating a combined search volume of 3,649,390 queries. The most frequently searched terms nationwide were “histamine allergy” (368,980/3,649,390, 10.1%), “penicillin allergy” (266,410/3,649,390, 7.3%), and “nut allergy” (103,850/3,649,390, 2.8%). Although “histamine allergy” was the most frequently searched term in this analysis, most searches for “histamine allergy” likely referred to an intolerance rather than a true immunoglobulin E–mediated allergy. Seasonal patterns were also observed, with increased searches for the categories “nut” and “penicillin” in the winter months and for “histamine” in the spring months.

This study demonstrates the potential of Google search query data analysis in a medical context and, in particular, underscores its relevance for understanding the public interest in food and drug allergies in Germany. The findings highlight the need for improved, easily accessible educational resources and for implementing allergy-specific, socially relevant health campaigns to address the unmet information needs of the population living in Germany regarding food and drug allergies.

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