Grab the tissues: Warm spell brings early allergy season
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Suddenly tormented by a runny nose, stuffy head, scratchy throat and itchy eyes? You’ve got lots of company.
Across the country, the spring allergy season has hit extremely early due to spells of unseasonably warm weather that induced trees such as elm, maple and oak to spew out pollen particles weeks ahead of schedule.
That’s making seasonal allergy sufferers miserable, and doctors in most regions are seeing a surge in patients seeking appointments or prescription refills.
“Normally, it wouldn’t be until the end of March or the start of April,” said Dr. Leonard Bielory, director of the Asthma and Allergy Research Center at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark.
He’s also seen a recent increase in patients coming in with asthma flare-ups and problems from mold allergies because balmy weather in the Northeast melted snow and ice, freeing mold spores from decaying leaves and twigs.
Denise Reis of Little Falls in northern New Jersey is among those suffering from the double whammy. She saw her doctor last week for treatment of mold allergies, and now the pollen is bothering her so much she wears a mask when she goes outside.
“Today was a bad day for me,” the 51-year-old retired actress said. “I get wheezing, I get coughing spells, my eyes tear, I get headaches.”
One of every three or four U.S. residents suffers from allergies, the sixth-leading cause of chronic disease in the country.
In Memphis, tree pollen counts the past few days have been averaging about 300, up to four times the normal level for this time of year and well above the 80-to-100 range that triggers symptoms, said Dr. Phil Lieberman, an allergist at University of Tennessee College of Medicine.
“It’s the highest pollen count that I can remember this early in the year,” he said.
Dr. Mark Dykewicz, an allergist at St. Louis University School of Medicine, said tree pollen levels began rising about 10 days ago, along with patient calls. Like other doctors, he urges people with allergies to get medications immediately, because symptoms can be better controlled the sooner treatment starts.
In Washington, D.C., Dr. Richard A. Nicklas has seen lots of patients with itchy, watery eyes, because pollen can settle in the eyes as well as being inhaled.
“I think what we’re seeing is the tip of the iceberg,” Nicklas said.
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On the Net:
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: http://www.aaaai.org
University of Medicine and Dentistry allergy site: http://pollen.umdnj.edu