Self-care for minor ailments such as cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies is well developed in Switzerland. Value sales and per capita expenditure is therefore already at a high level. In 2025, an exceptionally strong cold and flu season further contributed to growth, with flu cases hitting several new records in early 2025. In a similar vein, there were high cases of allergies as the pollen count continued to rise in Switzerland, affecting more consumers than previously.

Value sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies are seeing strong growth in the Dominican Republic in 2025. Although there is still a marked seasonality in cases of colds and influenza in the country during the rainiest months, which are between May and August, the country shows greater climatic volatility as an effect of climate change.

Throughout the review period, Ecuador experienced frequent outbreaks of influenza, COVID-19, and parainfluenza, triggering heightened demand for cough, cold, and allergy remedies. These episodes have intensified consumer concern around symptom management, leading to spikes in over-the-counter purchases. A growing tendency toward self-medication has been observed, with many individuals opting to treat symptoms on their own rather than visiting a physician. This behaviour is strongly influenced by

Estonia experienced a significant uptick in paediatric respiratory illnesses in early 2025, with influenza cases jumping 39% in the first weeks of January and affecting all age groups - children 0–7 being among the hardest hit. As a result, the cough, cold and allergy market is on a steady upswing in the year, with consumers increasingly favouring multi-symptom combination remedies. While paediatric formulations are benefiting from young families’ willingness to spend more on gentle, age-appropr

Value sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies are maintaining positive growth in Georgia in 2025. However, this value growth is mainly stimulated by prices increases while volume growth is somewhat restricted due to the high maturity of the category. That said, consumption is still being stimulated by growing cases of allergies and seasonal influenza. The expansion of pharmacies across the country also encourages the growing availability and assortment of cough, cold and allergy re

Retail value sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies are set to rise in Japan in 2025. Japan’s pharmaceutical pricing revision excluded 94 items from the selective treatment reimbursement scheme during the year, leading to increased out-of-pocket medical costs. This shift has accelerated consumer movement towards over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, as individuals increasingly choose to manage minor health issues without visiting medical institutions. The growing awareness of self-med

Value sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies in the Czech Republic increased in 2025, albeit at a modest rate. The category continues to face the lingering impact of supply disruptions and inflationary pressures, but conditions are gradually stabilising. Shortages of certain antihistamines eased compared with previous years, although some manufacturers still reported production delays and difficulties in maintaining consistent supply. This has encouraged Czech consumers to return

Retail value sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies in Bulgaria rose in 2025. Following the pandemic, Bulgarians became more conscious of the importance of effectively managing respiratory health. A long flu season and rising allergy prevalence sustained demand, while lifestyle and environmental factors such as urban pollution, sedentary routines and high stress levels further contributed to persistent respiratory issues. Consumers increasingly sought professional advice in pharma

Retail value sales of cough, cold, and allergy (hay fever) remedies in Norway are set to grow in 2025, which the category continues to be shaped by both seasonal variation and long-term lifestyle factors.

Sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies have increased in current value terms in 2025, on the heels of a weak cough and cold season in 2024 followed by a spike in cases in late January and early February 2025. Combination products remains the largest category and it has also been one of the most dynamic within cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies in current value terms in 2025. Consumers continue to favour combination products as an efficient means for treating multiple sym

Cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies in the United Arab Emirates is projected to see robust growth in retail volume and current value sales over 2025. This performance is driven, in part, by a surge in seasonal illnesses across 2024 and 2025. Media reports highlight record levels of cold and flu cases, with doctors noting a rise in patients experiencing multiple infections simultaneously. One leading clinic reported that nearly 60% of its visitors were presenting flu-like symptoms, inclu

Value sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies increased in Belgium in 2025, while the category remained the second-largest within Belgian consumer market. However, despite the early-year flu wave, a recurring seasonal occurrence, volume sales remained flat, underscoring the maturity and saturation of the category. This indicates that demand has reached a plateau, making further volume growth increasingly difficult to achieve. A key factor contributing to this stagnation is the cont

Retail value sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies are expected to rise slightly in current terms in the UK in 2025. This growth reflects a rebound in the incidence of seasonal illness towards the beginning of the year, increased consumer awareness, and a return to pre-pandemic social behaviours. The category has benefited from heightened demand for symptom relief across both the adult and paediatric segments.

Retail current value and volume sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies in Germany continued to grow in 2024, albeit at a significantly slower rate than in 2023. While shortages of certain medicines and inflationary pressures continued to affect consumer behaviour, Germany is gradually returning to more typical patterns as respiratory infections drive demand. However, the spread of seasonal colds and flu at the beginning of the year was less severe than in 2023, which slowed demand

Retail value sales of cough. cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies are expected to grow in current terms in South Korea in 2025. South Korea’s cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies market is shaped by two key trends: the dominance of combination products and the rapid growth of systemic antihistamines. Consumers increasingly favour combination products for their convenience, as these remedies address multiple symptoms in a single dose. This preference has helped combination products to le

Retail value sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies are set to grow in current terms in 2025, primarily driven by seasonal factors that increased the incidence of respiratory illnesses. Health authorities implemented a comprehensive preventive programme to provide citizens with timely information and recommendations on viral circulation, vaccination, and proper use of the healthcare network. Official health institutions highlighting the early onset of viral activity, including inf

In Colombia, value sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies are rising in 2025, thanks largely to the rainy season and prolonged cold weather besetting Colombia. Notably, self-medication trends indicate a significant reliance on OTC remedies, as revealed by Euromonitor International's annual of the Consumer: Health and Nutrition survey, which reports that 39.1% of respondents follow treatment using OTC solutions.

The cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies category in Mexico is recording double-digit value sales growth in 2025, largely driven by an unusual outbreak of whooping cough that has affected multiple states across the country. According to official reports, by the end of May, more than 1,300 cases had been registered in 30 federal entities, marking a significant increase compared to previous years. This surge in incidence has led to heightened demand for symptomatic treatments - particularl

Retail value sales of cough, cold, and allergy (hay fever) remedies in Cameroon rose in 2025, primarily fuelled by strong and sustained demand within the paediatric segment, particularly for children’s cough syrups. Growth was further supported by a modest rise in demand for antihistamines, especially first-generation options such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which are valued for their fast-acting relief within 15–30 minutes. This is a key selling point in a market where fast results are highl

Cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies in Canada witnessed stagnant value growth in 2025 after declining in 2024. Sales of these products are highly dependent on the severity of the cold/flu season and allergy season which are subject to volatility depending on the severity of the season. Combination products is the largest category in volume and value terms, followed by cough remedies. Overall, the weak cold and flu season led to declines in both these categories in 2025. Moreover, demand

Value sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies are falling in China in 2025. In early 2025, China’s cough, cold and allergy market faced headwinds as cold and flu incidence remained muted, limiting consumer demand for related remedies. Retailers, who had built up inventory in anticipation of stronger seasonal sales, experienced weaker sell-through, resulting in slower depletion and an inventory overhang. This mismatch between expected and actual demand created pressure on the supply

Austrian consumers continued to demonstrate a strong preference for self-care in 2025, with many turning first to over-the-counter remedies to manage minor respiratory ailments. Surveys by the Austrian Consumer Health Care Association (IGEPHA) showed that a majority of consumers self-medicate when faced with cold or flu symptoms, coughs or sore throats, reflecting both convenience and growing confidence in available products. Information campaigns by IGEPHA, alongside manufacturer-led education

Cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies in Bolivia is set to record positive growth in current value terms in 2025, reflecting the ongoing inflationary environment in the country. Price increases are being driven primarily by higher financial costs related to the import of finished products and raw materials. At the same time, demand is being boosted by the early onset of the winter season, which brought a wave of colds and, more notably, widespread influenza infections, among a population

Sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies have seen solid growth in 2025 in current value terms. Cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies is the second-largest category in over-the-counter (OTC) consumer health in Australia in 2025, with it seeing a robust performance as out-of-season growth extends the flu and allergy seasons in Australia. The flu season in Australia traditionally runs from May to September. However, health professionals are advising Australians to be on the loo