It's allergies: Here's what to expect this season if you live in NEPA
Apr. 19—The bursting buds on trees around the region are to blame for watery eyes, runny noses and headaches as spring allergy season blooms in Northeast Pennsylvania.
They're not to blame for fevers, sore throats and other symptoms of viral infections, including COVID-19.
Patients should be aware that COVID-19 and allergies have similar symptoms but with big differences.
"It's very easy to confuse allergies with COVID-19," said Dr. Puneet Bajaj, director of allergy and immunology for Geisinger. "Understand you may have COVID-19 and may not take it seriously and spread it around."
Pollen from trees is the biggest springtime culprit for allergies. Symptoms begin when the powdery substance produced by plants touches the lining of eyes and noses, Bajaj said.
With COVID-19 and other viral infections, suffers are more likely to have a fever. Then "it's not allergies," he said, adding extreme body aches and fatigue can happen with allergies but are uncommon and more likely to be symptoms of a viral infection.
"Allergies would cause you to get more itchy as compared to COVID-19, which causes more fevers, more sore throats," he added.
Dr. Keith Pritchyk, an ear, nose and throat and allergy specialist for Delta Medix, added that allergy suffers will not lose their sense of smell, a common side effect of COVID-19.
As the pandemic took hold last year, allergies appeared to have been less intense because many people were spending time indoors, socially distancing or in quarantine, said Bajaj, whose clinical interests include nose and sinus allergies, food allergies, asthma and hives.
Bajaj said the new growth in forests and wooded areas in the Northeast United States makes allergies particularly bad each spring.
After a snowy winter, like this past season, comes intense spring allergies, Pritchyk said.
To reduce allergic reactions, close windows and doors and avoid going outside during sunny, dry days — which tend to be higher pollen days. After spending time outdoors, suffers should rinse their faces and change their clothes, Bajaj said, adding that even taking a shower will help reduce reactions. He also suggests keeping car windows closed and avoiding drying clothes outside.
Long-acting, over-the-counter antihistamines taken daily will help combat symptoms, he said. People with asthma should make sure to take their medication every day.
Pritchyk recommends using a nasal spray if congested.
Allergy suffers can check daily pollen updates online by zip code.
Pollen.com, which Delta Medix uses on its allergy center website, currently lists most of Pennsylvania in the medium to high range for pollen, with the top allergens in Scranton coming from maple, elm and juniper trees. Southeast and Western Pennsylvania are now hitting high levels of pollen with 38% of the country in medium to high status, according to the site's National Allergy Map.
Today and Tuesday are expected to be high pollen days in Scranton, while Wednesday will be medium-high, according to pollen.com.
"Allergies aren't going to kill you, they're just going to make you irritable," Pritchyk said.
Contact the writer: kbolus@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5114; @kbolusTT on Twitter
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Lackawanna County
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Scranton
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Allergies
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Spring
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Geisinger
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