Royal Philips : Philips partners with the Medical University of Vienna to provide asthma and allergy sufferers with a pollen forecast

Amsterdam, the Netherlands - This World Allergy Week (April 22 - 28) and World Asthma Day (May 1), Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, is helping parents take charge of their children's asthma and allergy symptoms through awareness initiatives in more than 20 countries worldwide. The company today also announced its partnership with the Medical University of Vienna for a 3-day pollen forecast on the Air Matters app, which retrieves its data from global pollen measurement sites, including the new measurement station at Philips' Drachten site in the Netherlands.

Asthma and allergies in children are prevalent globally, with research confirming that 14% of children under the age of 18 worldwide experience asthma symptoms [1], and 1 in 8 children globally suffer from allergic rhinitis, such as hay fever [2]. In more than 80% of the children, their asthma is allergic and gets triggered by allergens [3], such as pollen, house dust, mold or flakes of skin from pets. Parents know that asthma and allergies can complicate even the simplest activities for their children, as these respiratory conditions can leave them feeling run down, uncomfortable and even upset.

Breathing good quality air makes a substantial difference for asthma and allergy sufferers. For better awareness of air quality, Philips collaborates with Air Matters, a free app that can be used around the world. Monitoring in real time from more than 10,000 monitoring stations in over 50 countries, the app provides information on indoor and outdoor air quality, including outdoor pollutant levels, and features a 7-day air quality forecast. The app also allows users to regulate the settings and the speed of their Philips air purifier, and provides information on its filter status.