Feb. 5--OXFORD -- Itchy, watery eyes, sniffles and sneezes are coming early this year, as allergists are already finding high pollen levels.
"It's gonna be a bad spring," said Dr. Robert Grubbe, whose practice, Allergy & Asthma Center, is seeing people trickle in complaining of allergies.
Two weeks ago, a pollen reader outside his office showed no levels of pollen, he said. By the following Friday, it jumped to 108 grains per cubic meter of air -- a reading considered high enough to trigger symptoms. Less than a week later, it jumped to a season-high 408.
Such numbers usually register at the end of February and into March.
Recent rain has helped wash the pollen off pines, cedars, pecans, elm, birches and cottonwoods -- trees registering high levels of pollen. But as clouds glide away, pollen festers.
That's typically bad news for John Hanvey, a 59-year-old cyclist from Oxford who's allergic to grass and trees. Battling a sinus infection Monday, Hanvey spent the morning in Grubbe's office.
In July 2007, Hanvey had an allergy test and began taking medicines, such as antihistamine and nasal sprays, and getting shots at least twice a month. It not only helped him sleep better, but made his bike rides more enjoyable.
"You'll never see a clearer blue sky as you will in October," he said.
Grubbe, who's practiced in the region since 1995, saw record tree pollination last year. And this winter, which hasn't been that cold or damp, will mean tough allergy conditions.
"We really need a long winter to keep pollen away," he said.
He encourages people who've stopped taking their allergy meds because it's winter to begin again, to schedule outdoor tasks after 10 a.m. and wear wrap-around sunglasses.
Sal Gray, indoor air program director with the state Health Department, said this allergy season will be tough because of fluctuating temperatures. After a bitter-cold week, this weekend's forecast is expected to get up to 70.
"It guess that's gonna cause all kinds of havoc," he said. "The trees, they're not going to know what to do. They may have some early blooms and die.
"It looks like spring is coming out early with the climate change like that."
Get those tissues ready. It could get rough.
About Michael A. Bell
Michael Bell covers education and health for The Star. He is a graduate of University of North Carolina, Wilmington.
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