Dec. 12--Jason Mitchell sides with his customers who prefer the aesthetics of a live Christmas tree to the imitation, boxed variety.
"A lot of people like the fragrance," said Mitchell of Oakland Nurseries in Delaware. "I would say that's the biggest thing for me."
But Mitchell stopped buying evergreens for several years after his youngest son had an asthma-like reaction when the family set up a live tree. They removed the tree after Bryce, a newborn, began coughing and wheezing.
The Mitchells switched to an artificial tree until Bryce, now 5, outgrew what his parents suspected was an allergy to the tree, or perhaps its pollen.
"I'm not going to put my son's health in jeopardy," Mitchell said.
Some local allergists report seeing an increase in patients during the winter months as people spend more time indoors.
There are misconceptions about what triggers the reaction with "Christmas-tree allergies," said Dr. Princess Ogbogu, an allergist and assistant professor at Ohio State University Medical Center.
Because pines, spruces and firs pollinate in the spring, pollen isn't usually the problem. "Often times, they're allergic to the mold spores," Ogbogu said.
Mold can grow on tree trunks and needles. Pre-cut Christmas trees attract mold because they usually are cut weeks before being sold, then stored outdoors in the rain or snow. Mold spores reproduce after the tree is hauled inside, Ogbogu said.
Symptoms of mold allergies vary, but they can include sneezing, coughing or wheezing and itchy or watery eyes.
To eliminate mold, Ogbogu recommends hosing the tree down outside and letting it dry in the sun. Many tree farms use mechanical shakers to clean the trees before bundling them, which can help get rid of any mold or pollen.
Some people truly are allergic to certain varieties of evergreen trees, while others might develop a rash if they touch or brush against tree sap, Ogbogu said.
Artificial trees and decorations aren't allergy-free, because they sit in basements or attics collecting dust once the holidays are over, said Dr. Philip Rancitelli, an allergist with Midwest Allergy & Asthma Associates. "It's really more of an issue with storage," he said.
Rancitelli recommends that his dust-allergic patients buy tree trimmings and decorations made of glass, metal and plastic, which are easy to clean. He said the holiday season also is stressful for those with food allergies -- dinners and parties are laden with potentially unsafe treats -- and for asthma sufferers who brave the cold to go shopping.
Avoiding whatever triggers a flare-up is the best remedy, but medications and shots can help control allergy symptoms, Rancitelli said.
For those who sniffle through the season, there is one variety of tree that allergy sufferers seem to tolerate, said Dave Reese, president of the Ohio Christmas Tree Association.
"People tell me, 'I'd love to come to your farm, but I'm allergic to trees,' " Reese said. "I always tell them about the Concolor fir."
The tree has a citrus fragrance, and its needles are a bit longer than a typical fir, Reese said. He also suggests buying freshly cut trees on a farm, rather than pre-cut ones.
dwilson@dispatch.com
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