Sneezing fits, itchy eyes, a runny nose with no fever or general unwellness — if this sounds like other years around this time, it’s more likely allergy than a virus. Around Tarragona and the Costa Daurada, the pollen calendar runs on its own schedule, different from northern Spain.
Which pollen causes the most trouble here
In this Mediterranean area, three are the main culprits:
- Grasses, typically peaking between May and June, the most common cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis across Spain.
- Olive, more present inland from Tarragona than right on the coast, also peaking around May–June.
- Parietaria (wall pellitory), a less well-known allergy but a significant one in the Mediterranean area, with a much longer season that can run for much of the year, peaking in spring and sometimes again in autumn.
Exact pollen levels vary year to year with the weather, so if allergies really disrupt your day, it’s worth checking the updated local pollen count during high season.
Allergy, cold or flu: the quick difference
We cover this in more depth in cold, flu or allergy: how to tell them apart, but the key is itching and fever: allergy itches (eyes, nose, sometimes throat) and doesn’t cause fever; a virus rarely itches that much and can cause fever. Allergy also switches on and off with exposure — it clearly improves indoors, a cold doesn’t.
What to take
- Second-generation oral antihistamines (cetirizine, loratadine, among others) are the first option — they ease sneezing, itching and a runny nose with far less drowsiness than older antihistamines. If you need one that won’t affect driving or work, tell us and we’ll point you to it.
- An over-the-counter corticosteroid nasal spray, if congestion is the main symptom rather than itching — it works on the inflammation itself, not just the symptom, and takes a few days to reach full effect.
- Antihistamine eye drops, if itchy eyes are what bothers you most.
- For cases that don’t improve with the above, there are combinations and other options worth discussing in more detail at the counter.
When this stops being just allergy
See a doctor, or get medical attention if it’s severe, if you notice:
- Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or a tight feeling in the chest — this can be an asthma component that needs a different kind of treatment
- Fever — allergy doesn’t cause it; if it appears, something else is likely going on
- Symptoms that don’t improve at all with over-the-counter antihistamines after a week
- A reaction much more intense than usual, with facial swelling
At Farmàcia Arqué
No appointment needed. We’ll help you work out whether it’s allergy and choose the antihistamine that suits you best — including the option least likely to make you drowsy. We’re at Passeig de Miramar 72, on Ponent Beach, and we speak Spanish, Catalan, English and French.
Outside our opening hours, the duty pharmacy in Salou covers the 24-hour shift.
This article is for information only and does not replace assessment by a healthcare professional for a specific symptom. Sources: Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC), SEAIC Aerobiology Committee — pollen network, Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS).