Eyes itchier than an old wool sweater, a runny nose and a head that feels like a floating balloon all inform allergy sufferers that the pollen and mold season is upon us.

Recent storm activity and high winds are expected to cause allergy sufferers some problems as mold spores and pollen spread through the air.

Preceding a storm, updrafts send mold spores up into the air, which explains why people with allergies can experience symptoms before and after rain comes.

Dr. Al Neuhoff, a family practitioner with Point Family Practice, 3301 Stanley St., said spring and fall are usually the worst allergy times of year.

He noticed that for the past month, patients have consistently been coming in with complaints of allergy problems.

Avoiding allergens like pollen and mold is the best treatment, but Neuhoff said it can be difficult as the weather gets warmer and people don't want to keep their windows closed.

The tree pollen season is coming to a close, but those allergic to mold spores and grass will begin to feel a little worse.

"With these days of high humidity, we'll have more mold spores kicking up," said Dr. Steve Kagen, allergy and asthma specialist and founder of the Kagen Allergy Clinic in Appleton.

As of this week, Kagen said this year has been an average allergy season, especially when compared to last year, which showed a 40 percent increase in pollen counts over an average year.

Allergy symptoms often appear to be colds, but Kagen said people will know if they are allergic to something they will have runny noses and sinus problems for more than a week in addition to itchy eyes and skin.

"If you have an allergy, you don't have to suffer," he said. "Allergies can get better with an accurate diagnosis."
Testing and an exact diagnoses from a detailed medical history and either skin or blood tests should be done before any medication is taken or prescribed, Kagen said.

Aside from breathing in pollen, Kagen warns allergy sufferers that certain foods related to grass and ragweed can trigger reactions.

"These are some of the relationships that patients need to be aware of," Kagen said.

People allergic to grass should avoid tomatoes, corn, onions, chives and other plants that grow like grass or contain similar proteins. The "cousins" of ragweed, including bananas, watermelons, cantaloupe and sunflower seeds, also should be avoided by those with allergies.

Eating the foods may cause wheezing, an itchy mouth and intestinal problems.

Before heading to an allergy specialist, a person can ask their family practitioner or regular doctor about allergy testing. Skin tests can be done at any age, Kagen said.

Medication has been improving in its power to treat symptoms, but the immune imbalance that causes allergy problems will remain, Kagen said.

"The cause of all allergy symptoms and asthma is an overactive immune system," Kagen said.

To treat an overactive immune system in people who experience severe allergic reactions, allergy injections are needed.

Beginning in young adulthood, allergies have become the No. 1 cause of absenteeism at school, and has been shown to affect concentration in the classroom.

"Treatment actually improves school performance," Neuhoff said.

Kagen has developed a program for Wisconsin schools called the Allergy Family Guide, which he hopes will be implemented in fifth-grade classes statewide.

Between 23 percent and 30 percent of the population has the genetic predisposition to have allergic immune reactions to things they are exposed to, Kagen said.

"It's not a small number of people," he said.
 

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