Resumen
Antecedentes: El incremento en frecuencia e intensidad de las olas de calor, como consecuencia del cambio climático, representa un riesgo creciente para la salud pública, especialmente en poblaciones con enfermedades alérgicas y respiratorias.
Objetivo: Revisión bibliográfica de la relación entre las olas de calor y la exacerbación de enfermedades alérgicas, con énfasis en los mecanismos ambientales y fisiopatológicos implicados.
Métodos: Se realizó la búsqueda estructurada en Scopus y Web of Science (2015–2025), complementada con bibliografía regional, identificándose 304 referencias. Después de aplicar los criterios de inclusión y exclusión, se evaluaron 120 artículos a texto completo y se incluyeron 79 en la síntesis cualitativa.
Resultados: La evidencia confirma que las olas de calor se asocian con un incremento en los ingresos hospitalarios de pacientes con asma y elevada frecuencia en las consultas con dermatitis atópicas, en pacientes de edad pediátrica. Los mecanismos identificados incluyen: intensificación de la producción y dispersión de polen, sinergia con contaminantes atmosféricos, disrupción de la barrera epitelial y activación de receptores de potencial transitorio.
Conclusiones: La falta de protocolos de estudio bien definidos para abordar a los pacientes alérgicos durante una ola de calor es una brecha no sólo en México y América Latina, sino en todo el mundo. Dentro de las principales limitaciones destacan: la falta de definiciones estandarizadas, la escasez de modelos de análisis multi-exposición y la carencia de estrategias integrales de mitigación urbana y adaptación clínica que protejan a los grupos más vulnerables. En el caso de la rinitis alérgica, los datos disponibles aún no son concluyentes en cuanto a las exacerbaciones relacionadas con olas de calor.
Palabras clave: Ola de calor; Cambio climático; Salud pública; Enfermedades respiratorias; Asma; Dermatitis atópica; Pacientes pediátricos; México; América latina; Rinitis alérgica.
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