Achoo! Pollen at its worst in years in many areas (Climate Change Alert!)

AP ^ | 04/09/10 | TAMARA LUSH

[GauchoUSA]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Pollen: 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.

"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."

And they are suffering a lot. 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.

The boy's mother said that when the pollen is at its worst, his eyes water and itch, he can't breathe through his nose and his throat burns.

[a fool in paradise]

They cry “fascist” when anyone calls them socialist. They may love the dream of Socialism, but they will only admit it behind closed doors.

[Constitution Day]

Pikers. Here in Atlanta, we need to plow the roads to keep them clear of The Powdery Menace. 8^)

Oh, I didn't say how deep it was! ;^)

I had to go out a window just to get out of my house.
The pollen drifts are halfway up the front door!

(I really was being serious about the tire tracks, though)

[goodwithagun]

We’re big fans of the netti pot. Put a pinch of salt in warm water and pour it in one nostril and let it run out the other. During flu season or when we feel sinus issues coming on, we use a capful of hydrogen peroxide instead of salt. Burns like hell, but works great!

[Constitution Day]

I have had allergy problems since I was a little boy.

You are right, though. The Raleigh,NC TV stations would have you thinking we are having a pollen apocalypse.

I have told a couple of people to stop complaining about it. It doesn’t really last that long, and I consider it part of the price of being able to live here in the South. I like it here. :)

[Marty62]

Twice a year allergy sufferers everywhere can tell you what is happening.

[ErnBatavia]

Until last fall, we had one of these (Palo Verde tree) in the front yard; beginning around this time of year, it'd break out with the yellow blossoms and drive wifey's allergies into high gear.

We had it removed in November because it was affecting our wall's footing - I'll sure miss it's summer shade.

[Moose4]

Yeah, but it actually is much worse than usual this year. In the Southeast and mid-Atlantic at least, winter was colder and a lot wetter than in previous years, and this sudden burst of warmth we’ve had the past week and a half seemed to pop all the trees into pollen overdrive at once. Everything’s covered in it.

It’s just an annoyance for all but the most seriously allergic...but it’s still an annoyance!

}:-)4

[cweese]

"Why not use a saline nasal spray (salt water)?"

Saline spray doesn't do much to shrink the nasal passages as Nasonex does.

[Flycatcher]

You may want to consider a change of scenery.

I've had terrible allergies and asthma all my life. Twenty years ago, my wife and I moved to the Low Desert, and I've been OK since then. Yes, the Low Desert does have some allergens, but far far fewer than most other parts of the country.

[mikelets456]

I have gotten “hammered” with bad allergies in the Spring over the past 20 years or so. However, last year and this year it has been MINIMAL..... That’s odd.

[stuartcr]

???

[SE Mom]

Same here- looks about the way it did last year..

[AngryJawa]

I can’t tell you how charming it is to watch the neighborhood childrenn building pollenmen and having sneezeball fights.

[Flycatcher]

Nice pic.

My former place out in the western AZ desert had some wild littleleaf palo verdes on it (as well as a few wild ocotillos). I did OK (allergy-wise) with the palo verdes, but the wild white bursage got to me.

I now live in the Mojave Desert of NE AZ (Joshua trees, catclaw, and Mojave yucca) but it's the cheesebush (hymenoclea salsola) that gets to me.

But it's still better than Johnson grass and ragweed!. lol

[Flycatcher]

Correction: NW AZ

[Constitution Day]

LOL!!

[a fool in paradise]

I can’t tell you how charming it is to watch the neighborhood childrenn building pollenmen and having sneezeball fights.

Well you SHOULD do something with those used kleenex...

Meanwhile I switched to using paper towels years ago. They don't fall apart after use.

[a fool in paradise]

I’ve used Nasonex a couple of times. But people warn against over use to where you then become dependent on it. Like even a couple of days of repeated use.

[FrankR]

""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. ""

I like how they think her 6-years experience is enough to change the world over; I've lived here in Georgia - and we've got plenty of trees - for 64 years, and I have seen worse pollen many times...like...LAST YEAR.

I'm sure it plays out different in other areas, but to imply that it has anything to do with "climate change" is pissing in the river expecting the water level to rise.

One word...(stolen from Sarah Palin) "GoreGate".

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

If they think their plight is bad, they should have seen the massive case of poison ivy I got last year from cutting brush along my back fence. One forearm had to be wrapped in bandages, and even my earlobes were itching at one point.

I had to take TWO courses of prednisone to stop the oozing for good. Benadryl helped to calm the itch down. I don't think that double-dosing on Claritin did much in that area, although I was basically sneeze-free during that time. :-)

Apparently, PI is more vicious as well, producing abundant urushiol (active ingredient) due to increased CO₂. Or so they say.