Pollen at its worst in years in many areas. It’s on your car, in the air and especially in your sinuses.
From Florida to Texas to Colorado, 2010 is shaping up to be a monster of an allergy season. The words “pollen” and “allergy” are among the top 10 trending topics on Twitter in several U.S. cities. Everywhere, it seems, is covered in a fine yellow dust that irritates our lives. Experts say it’s the worst they’ve seen in years in many areas.
“It’s wicked bad this year,” said Dr. Mona Mangat, an allergy specialist in St. Petersburg, Fla., who can’t recall a worse year in the six she’s worked there. “We’re just overwhelmed with patients right now. We’re double- and triple-booked with new patients, trying to work people in because we know how much people are suffering.”
This year is especially bad in the Southeast, weather experts say, likely due to winter’s unseasonably cold weather.
“That may have helped delay some of the plants from blooming as early as they may have wanted to,” said John Feerick, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather. “It’s the fact that everything is coming out all at once.”
High winds in some areas also spread the misery.
“We had a perfect storm this year,” said Dr. William Storms, professor at University of Colorado and a clinician. “It’s the worst I’ve seen in 10 years.”
It’s enough to bring some to tears. Take 5-year-old Sam Wilson of St. Petersburg. His mom gives him Claritin in the morning, Nasonex and Benadryl at night, and he receives four allergy shots every week. The sidewalks of his hometown are covered in what look like piles of dried, brown worms — but they are mounds of oak tree pollen.
His mother said that when the pollen is at its worst, the boy’s eyes water and itch, he can’t breathe through his nose and his throat burns.
“His reaction yesterday was pretty bad,” said his mother, 34-year-old Joanna Wilson on Thursday. “He couldn’t breathe, he was completely congested, and crying.”
Filed under: Health & Wellness
I like to collect new and useful information on allergy relief. Actually there are many people suffering from allergies in my hometown. I think I should do something for them and let them access to more great information like this one. Your experience will surely be helpful. Thanks so much.
The onset of a new season often spells trouble for people who are allergic. A change in season brings about an increase in the quantity of antigens which cause allergy. They are pollen grains released from plants and trees, dust and dust mites, as well as molds and mildew that grow plentifully with the commencement of a favorable season