Pollen at its worst in years

Excerpts Courtesy of Tamara Lush, Associated Press

From Florida to Texas to Colorado, 2010 is shaping up to be a monster of an allergy season. Experts say it's the worst they've seen in years.

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. "His reaction yesterday was pretty bad," said his mother, 34-year-old Joanna Wilson on Thursday. "He couldn't breathe, he was completely congested, and crying."

"We had a perfect storm this year," said Dr. William Storms, professor at University of Colorado and a clinician. "It's the worst I've seen in 10 years." Tree pollen season should subside within a few weeks, but experts say some will continue to suffer because grass and weed allergies rise in the summer.

Bonnie - people could greatly reduce their symptoms during the height of allergy season by avoiding cross-reactors as explained in my Conquering Allergy and Food Intolerance Action Plan.