Spring blooms bring out allergies, remedies
Published on Monday, March 24, 2025
By: Danny Barrett Jr., dlbarrett@umc.edu
Pollen season is upon us in Mississippi and nationwide.
And it’s becoming more difficult to determine when and which types of pollen will affect which people, allergists say.
White, sticky powder from pine trees is now covering everything from car roofs to street curbs in March and continues through April. Yellowy dustings of pollen from elm, juniper and oak also common in early spring make for big sneezes and other nasty reactions for those with allergies.
“Spring allergy season has arrived and, as the trees start budding, so does spring hay fever,” said Dr. Gailen Marshall, the R. Faser Triplett Sr. MD Chair in Allergy and Immunology at UMMC and director of the Division of Clinical Immunology.
In the past, specific pollens had specific seasons for fairly well-defined periods of time, Marshall said. Tree pollen generally posed the biggest threat for prompting upper respiratory and sinus infections from March 1 through April 30. Blooms of certain species of grasses then filled the air with pollen from May through July, followed closely by various weeds such as ragweed from September through October.
Mississippi’s already-variable climate swings coupled with climate change in general has made the dates on that calendar tougher to nail down, Marshall said. Still, those with and without known allergies can still keep the facial tissues away by talking to their doctor.
“There is little disagreement about the observation that winters are shorter and wetter in the Deep South, with warmer weather accompanied by plenty of showers. All the extra carbon dioxide in the air acts as plant food for the trees, which then produce all the extra pollen,” Marshall said.
About a quarter of adults in the U.S. deal with the effects of seasonal allergies, which include itchy and/or watery eyes, scratchy throat and noses that just can’t stop running. Increasingly short winters mean warmer temperatures take hold for more of the year, which means the seasons for specific pollens are overlapping, Marshall said.
Pollen counts in the Jackson area remain high this month, with elm, juniper and oak pollens being the top allergens detected. However, the city managed to stay out of the upper half of this year’s top 100 allergy capitals in the nation, measured annually by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Usage of over-the-counter medication in Jackson to combat allergies was rated worse than average by the nonprofit organization, though the availability of board-certified allergists/immunologists was rated better than average. The two results mean not enough allergy sufferers are seeing a doctor to seek possible remedies to their seasonal symptoms.
“When over-the-counter remedies aren’t good enough to keep symptoms at bay, it can only lead to symptoms worsening to include higher stress and anxiety associated with chronic allergies,” said Dr. Charles Grogan, assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics and medical director of the UMMC Adult Allergy Service.
In the meantime, those with allergies that flare up with any change in weather can practice a few mindful tips to manage both exposure and symptoms:
- Lower exposure – Avoid activities when pollen counts are highest. Pollens are released most abundantly when the sun comes up and reach a maximum level around the middle of the day. Thus, the best times to enjoy the outdoors are early morning and early evening.
- Clothing and cleanliness – Pollens tend to stick to clothing and are transported indoors quite easily. Consider changing clothes and taking a shower immediately after prolonged periods outdoors.
- Start a medicine regimen before the season arrives – Get a jump on any change in weather by using as directed any number of over-the-counter meds such as specially-formulated nasal sprays and antihistamines.
“Intranasal steroids are the gold standard to prevent and treat symptoms of allergic rhinitis, or hay fever,” Marshall said. “Antihistamines are most helpful as an add-on for symptoms not fully controlled by other medications.”
UMMC has multiple board-certified allergists-immunologists available at several sites in Hinds, Rankin and Madison counties with same- or next-day appointments available.
“Self-referral is welcomed. These physicians can help diagnose specific allergies, provide advanced prescription medical therapy and, if needed, provide allergen injections to decrease or possibly eliminate the allergic sensitivity that a specific patient has,” Marshall said.
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To see a specialist at UMMC’s Allergy, Asthma and Immunology clinic, call (888)815-2005.
Allergy and Immunology
