Allergy season: Pollen levels nearing seasonal peak in area

Amy Folsom, physician assistant at Express Care at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, looks at a patient's ears. The arrival of spring has also brought on seasonal allergies for many in Southeast Missouri. Folsom said the walk-in clinic is seeing a rise in the number of patients seeking treatment for allergies. Leonna Heuring, Staff

SIKESTON -- Nasal congestion, itchy throats and watery eyes sometimes combined with a cough usually have one thing in common this time of year -- allergies.

Amy Folsom, physician assistant at Express Care at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, said over the last two weeks, the walk-in urgent care clinic saw more allergy-related patient cases than flu-related cases.

"We're seeing tons of allergy patients, and we still have a little bit of flu cases trickling in," Folsom said.

According to Pollen.com's Allergy Outlook, pollen levels are near their seasonal peak in the Sikeston area, and tree pollen -- especially juniper, maple and elm -- are active.

Typically spring yields the highest pollen levels, when plants, grasses and trees are flowering, particularly in the early mornings, Allergy Outlook said.

Warm, dry and windy weather and climates with little or no rain have high pollen levels. Rain or cool weather dramatically drops allergy levels.

The concentration of pollen grains in the air for today are expected to be greater than Thursday's levels. Levels are forecast at 9.9 today with 9.7 to 12 considered "high." Thursday's rainfall helped lower the level from 11 on Wednesday to 7.2. Levels of 7.3 to 9.6 are considered "medium-high" and 4.9 to 7.2 are considered "medium."

For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.