Pollen overload in some parts of US, situation grim for asthmatics

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDApr 12 2010

Unusual cold seasons across US has lead to an all time high in pollen this season. Southeast is one of the worst affected with a yellow mist of pollen hanging around constantly. Normally a pollen count of 120 is considered high. This year it has risen up to 5,733 in Atlanta last week. This is the second-highest level on record, according to The Weather Channel. (The city's record - 6,013 on April 12, 1999.)

The record dips in temperatures last winter in Georgia and Florida is said to have delayed the whole pollination process and this also means that this pollen overload will last till early next month. Some parts of Arkansas, Raleigh, N.C, Texas, Chicago are affected badly.

This spells sneezes and allergies in many of the population. According to Allergy specialist Stanley Fineman at the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic the number of patients allergic to tree pollen is "much higher than usual." According to Richard Lockey, director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the University of South Florida, nearly 20% of the country’s population is affected by pollen and 5% need to see a specialist. He said, "This is the season when you see people staying home from work for a week because their eyes are so swollen… People say, 'Aw it can't be that bad.' Well, it's like having a bad cold for two, three months. The quality of life for those people, particularly the severely affected, is very, very poor at this point."