It's allergy season. Let the suffering begin.

But there's more itchy-eyed, runny-nosed bad news. The harsh winter is going to deliver a final, brutal blow: a quick-peaking, super-intense spring allergy season, which will affect 40 to 50 million Americans starting this month.

"The weather always has a distinct affect on the pollen production," said Dr. Janna Tuck, a Cape Girardeau physician and allergist. "Because of the bad winter, it could be a shorter, more intense season."

That's because Tuck and other experts say moisture accumulated from heavy snow and rain has nurtured mold and will fuel tree-pollen production once daytime temperatures consistently stay above 55 degrees.

Reports from last week showed that molds were actually low and pollen counts from trees were moderate in the area.

Additionally, trees such as cedar, elm and maple are blooming slightly later than usual, so they could be putting out roughly double the normal amount of pollen, Tuck said.

"Usually, when spring starts late, the trees tend to start pollinating at the same time," she said. "Whenever there are extremes in weather, no matter what the plant, they respond by producing more seed for the next year."

That's what produces symptoms such as sneezing, congestion and itchy eyes and ears after the airborne pollen makes its way from plants, trees and grass into people's respiratory system. Symptoms begin almost immediately after exposure to an allergen and last as long as the exposure does.

Late bloomers

People who are in their 30s and have never had allergies aren't immune, though. Usually, allergies affect children the worst and continue to plague them into adulthood, she said.

But sometimes, for whatever reason, people develop allergies during their 30s.

"You see that sometimes," she said. "But you generally don't see people in their 60s developing allergies for the first time."

Tuck said she recommends seeing a doctor if allergy sufferers take more than one or two over-the-counter medications a week.

The biggest news in allergy pharmaceuticals involves Claritin. This is the first allergy season since Claritin, the nation's top-selling allergy drug, became a nonprescription remedy in December.

Monica Griffith of Cape Girardeau went to a drug store Monday morning to buy some of the medicine to treat her sneezing and watery eyes.

"I've never used it before," she said. "But I wanted to now that you can get it over-the-counter."

Griffith said she suffers from allergies every spring and fall.

It's not serious.

"But it sure is annoying," she said.

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137

STOP THE SNEEZING

According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, there is no method to precisely forecast the amount of pollen in the air.

Allergy sufferers can minimize the effects of pollen by:

Using air conditioning, which cleans, cools and dries air.

Minimizing outdoor activities when pollen counts are high. Peak pollen times are usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Keeping car windows rolled up when traveling.

Staying indoors when humidity is high and on windy days when dust and pollen are blown about.

Taking a shower after spending time outside because pollen can collect on the skin and hair.