Autumn Allergies

Filed in archive Hay Fever on November 2, 2007

Autumn is my favorite time of the year. All those beautiful golds and reds and everything in between. For some, though, frolicking among crisp leaves would trigger a bout a sneezing, wheezing, runny, itchy nose, watery eyes and congested nasal passages. Such is the life of individuals with seasonal allergic rhinitis, also referred to as hay fever.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis does not just happen in autumn, though. Some may find that their symptoms are worst durign spring, while some suffer the most during late summer, when ragweeds are in full bloom. Autumn allergies also not just to pollens, either.

"Like everywhere else, ragweed is the big fall problem here but there is also a concentration of mold spores, particularly now that our autumn weather has gotten a little cooler," said Dr. Douglas Leavengood of Biloxi, who began on the Coast as an allergy/immunology specialist 22 years ago.

"Ragweed may be the best known of the fall pollens, but we also have pigweed, lambs quarter, English plantain, yellow dock, grass, even a little bit of sage brush here. Most people don't have reactions to pollens."

How's this year's autumn allergy foes treating you?