Helpful Advice For Fall Allergy Sufferers

The annual peak of fall allergies. Many folks across eastern Oklahoma are suffering this week. <br/><br/>News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan says many have been sneezing and coughing.<br/><br/>Dr. Jane Purser

Friday, September 15th 2006, 11:00 am

By: News On 6

The annual peak of fall allergies. Many folks across eastern Oklahoma are suffering this week.

News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan says many have been sneezing and coughing.

Dr. Jane Purser at the Allergy Clinic of Tulsa says it's been a busy two weeks. "Oh when I talk to patients, almost everyone sits down and says this year has been good or bad, but the last 10 days, I've been stuffy, sinus headache, coughing, some people say they've had a sinus infection, my asthma patients, the last two weeks I'd say, they've been needing more of their inhaler."

Emory Bryan: "And what's going on to cause that?"

Dr. Jane Purser: "The combination of ragweed hitting it's peak and the rain we had a week or two ago, it's kicked up the mold spores. You put the two together and it wreaks havoc."

Dr. Purser says the ragweed started blooming about Labor Day and it won't stop until the first frost. That's what brought in 8 year old Riley Wilt, who has a runny nose and a cough.

He's getting a skin test for allergies. Dr. Jane Purser: "So there's something in the air right now you're allergic to, and this is Ash, it's a kind of tree, that's something you're allergic to." Emory Bryan: â€œNow how can you tell here he's allergic to these things?â€ Dr Jane Purser: "Because they're getting red. Can I hold your arm a minute? So if you look at this one, it doesn't have an redness around it and this one does, do you see this one, the redness?"

Dr. Purser says most people with fall allergies should start treating it on Labor Day, whether or not they have symptoms.

She says people with allergies should try washing out their noses to get relief, but if that doesn't help - seek out a doctor for help.