Massive Pollen Assault Triggers Sneezes, Runny Noses, Etc.

Gary B. Gray/Bristol Herald Courier
Published: May 9, 2008

Spring has sprung, and so has allergy season.

During this time of year, pollen pursues its mission of fertilizing various flowering plants. But tree pollen is especially heavy this spring, and unintended targets, such as human noses, eyes, throats and lungs aren’t enamored by these frisky particles.

"The pollination is stronger this year, and this already is one of the most allergenic areas in the nation," said Dr. Marek Pienkowski, with Bristol Tennessee’s Allergic Diseases Asthma & Immunology Clinic. "The number of days on which there are alerts for excessive amounts of pollen in the air is increasing, and the biggest contributor right now is maple tree pollen."

Pienkowski knows his sniffles and sneezes. He is a graduate of Johns Hopkins Medical School, specializing in allergies and immunology.

"We’ve had a cold start to spring, and the pollen had been relatively dormant," he said. "The temperatures have increased suddenly. Mix that with the generous amount of rainfall we’ve been getting, and you have a greater-than-normal dispersal. The pollen has gone into overdrive. It’s trying to catch up."

Pollens are tiny, egg-shaped male cells of flowering plants. The granules that come from bright flowers, such as roses, usually do not trigger allergies. These waxy pollens are carried by bees and other insects.

On the other hand, many trees, grasses and low-growing weeds have small, light, dry pollens that are well-suited for airborne flight on their own. And when the stuff starts to fly, some of us handle the irritating particles better than others.

The immune systems of people with allergies basically react too fast and work too hard when relatively harmless gunk like pollen happens to waft their way.

Symptoms from allergic reactions to what doctors call pollen allergy, or hay fever, include sneezing, coughing, itching, runny noses and watering eyes.

Pollens are the most frequent troublemakers. But other undesirables can also cause allergic reactions: mold spores, housedust mites, animal dander, foods, insect bites or stings, plants, viruses, bacteria, medications and certain environmental conditions.

"We really only have two times during the year when pollen, mold and spores are very low – that’s from late July to early August, and the coldest winter months," Pienkowski said. "Right now, I would not advise exercising outdoors, especially in the morning."

People suffering from mild allergic reactions because of seasonal allergies should be OK with over-the-counter medications, such as Claritin or the recently introduced Zyrtec. But for those whose suffering demands more attention, the doctor suggests vaccine therapy.

"An allergy is an immunological imbalance, and the only way we can effectively deal with allergies is with special vaccines," he said. "The vaccines must be developed on a case-by-case basis, but they are extremely successful."

Balancing the immune system is a growing, worldwide problem. About 30 percent of Americans suffer from allergies, but only 7 to 8 percent of people in underdeveloped countries have such problems, he added.

"One reason for this is the overuse of antibiotics in the U.S. and other industrialized countries," he said. "People’s systems develop a tolerance from antibiotics, and that’s when a bacteria introduced to the body can really do harm. You don’t see that is some countries, even those where people are living in squalor."

Meanwhile, back in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee, there is good news and bad news. Pienkowski says the tree pollen counts should start thinning out in a few weeks. Unfortunately, that’s about the time pollen from grasses and weeds will begin making their pilgrimages.

"The tree pollen starts in March and the grass starts in May, so they’re overlapping, and I’d say the grass pollen season is going to be worse," said Dr. Neil Wallen, a certified immunologist with Highlands Allergy & Asthma Center, also in Bristol, Tenn.

The area is undergoing a "pretty severe" pollen season, but that fact holds true almost every year about this time, he said.

On Thursday, the pollen count, which is measured in parts per cubic meter, was 300 grains, or particles. Surprisingly, the mold spore count was five times that at 1,500 parts per cubic meter, Wallen said.

"Today I saw two people that were very debilitated from allergies, and they had just been sitting at home with wet cloths on their eyes," he said Thursday. "When I see a patient, I ask myself, ‘how much are these symptoms interfering with their lives?’ Another thing I look for is whether they are having problems with their lungs."

Wallen advised people the best single defense to fend off pollen is to keep the windows in their vehicles rolled up.

He agreed with Pienkowski that mild allergic symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter antihistamines.

"The next step would be prescription medicines, including nasal sprays," he said. "The next step would be allergy shots which are used to suppress one small part of the immune system."

Wallen said it is too early to tell if the coming grass pollen season will produce more symptoms in people prone to allergies.

Pollen.com is Web site that provides daily updates on allergy alerts and conditions, and ranks the density of airborne pollen on a scale from 1-10, with 10 being the most severe.

On Thursday, Mountain Empire region came in at 4.5, which is in the low to medium range.

That ranking is projected to rise today to 8.2. The medium to high ranking stems mainly from maple, hickory and mulberry trees and is likely to affect a large number of people who suffer from seasonal allergies.

The number is projected to drop back down Sunday and Monday to the low to medium range, according to the site.

"I would say the number of people coming in here suffering from allergies has definitely picked up, especially over the past three weeks," said Craig Jones, a CVS pharmacist in Bristol, Va. "We normally see a lot of allergies in spring and fall, but this spring we’re seeing a pretty large increase."

Tree pollen and mold appear to be causing most allergies in the area this spring. Mold, which produces spores that enter the air, is thriving thanks to rains seen in the region so far this year, Jones said.

"Most people, they come in and go right for the cough suppressant," Jones said. "But what they really need more is an antihistamine."

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What are allergies?

• Allergies are the immune system’s exaggerated response to a foreign substance. Normally harmless substances, such as pollen, cause the immune system to react as if the substance is harmful. Substances that cause allergies are called allergens.

What are the symptoms of allergies?

• Mild reactions include symptoms affecting a specific area of the body such as a rash, hives and watery eyes.
• Moderate reactions include symptoms that spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms include itchiness, hives and difficulty breathing.
• Severe reactions, known as anaphylaxis, are life-threatening reactions in which the body’s response to an allergen is sudden and affects the entire body, including swelling of the throat, cramps and confusion or dizziness.

Source: Cleveland Clinic

To check current local allergen levels, types of common pollens and information on symptoms and remedies, visit http://www.pollen.com. A pollen index also is published daily in the Bristol Herald Courier with the weather forecast. Tri-City Medical Research is conducting a study on a drug recently approved by the Federal Drug Administration. For information on how to participate, call (423) 989-3105.