Allergy season already affecting Memphis and the Mid-South

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Allergy season has arrived early in Memphis and the Mid-South.

From itchy eyes to runny noses, seasonal allergies cause almost 25 percent of Americans to suffer according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“They (children) are calling and coming in with sneezing, running nose, red itchy eyes,” said Dr. Blake Bergeron, the Pediatric Medical Director at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. “Sometimes they’re having a lot of tearing in their eyes. So, it’s causing a lot of trouble for a lot of people, especially tree allergies this time of year.”

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, as the weather gets warmer, you may start experiencing more allergy symptoms.

Tree pollen is usually the first thing that sparks allergies.

“The trees if you’ve noticed are pollenating right now,” Dr. Bergeron said. “That’s when you wake up in the morning and cars are covered in that fine yellow dust. That’s all tree pollen.”

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However, Dr. Bergeron has suggestions on how to fight the symptoms.

“We are encouraging anyone who’s having seasonal allergies to start with just an over the counter antihistamine,” Dr. Bergeron said. “Those are your brand names such as Claritin or Zyrtec. There are instructions on the back of the box for what dose you can take safely for your kid. That helps a lot for the nasal symptoms. Now for particularly for tree pollens, look for antihistamine eye drops.”

Other ways to prevent allergy problems are by keeping the windows to your car and home closed, try to avoid going out when pollen counts are highest and change your clothes when you get home.

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