Tree Pollen Allergy Season Begin in March: What You Need to Know

 

There are a lot of great things about living in Florida, but unfortunately the seasonal allergy forecast isn’t one of them. When the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) ranked its 10 worst cities for seasonal allergies for 2023, three Florida cities made the list: Orlando, Cape Coral and Sarasota.

Here in South Florida, seasonal allergy triggers tend to pop up earlier than other parts of the country due to the milder climate. Some of the worst early offenders for seasonal allergies are tree pollens such as those from oak, hickory, ash and queen palm trees. March is when the tree pollen allergy season begins, so it’s a good idea to be prepared.

What Is Tree Pollen Allergy?

If you or your children have an allergy to tree pollen, which is part of a larger family of allergies sometimes referred to as seasonal allergies or allergic rhinitis, then you are certainly not alone. The AAFA estimates that around 30 percent of the U.S. population has allergic rhinitis.

An allergy is simply your immune system’s response to something from the environment that is harmless to most people. In the spring, tree pollen is one of the greatest contributors to allergic reactions.

Tree Pollen Allergy Symptoms

In most cases, kids’ reactions to tree pollen are consistent with other forms of allergic rhinitis or seasonal allergies. These symptoms include:

• Runny nose
• Stuffiness
• Sneezing
• Itchiness
• Red eyes
• Swelling around the eyes
• Trouble sleeping
• Fatigue

In some cases, tree pollen can lead to more severe reactions and cause asthma-like symptoms such as trouble breathing, coughing, wheezing and chest tightness or pain. These symptoms can persist in children throughout multiple seasons in Florida, due to the extended growing season in the region.

Treating Seasonal Allergies

If there’s any good news for children with tree pollen allergies, it’s the fact that many of the symptoms can be managed successfully with prevention and avoidance measures. Try some of the following steps to reduce your kids’ exposure to tree pollen allergens:

• Check the daily pollen count and have your kids play indoors on high-pollen days.
• Avoid prolonged outdoor play in the afternoons when pollen levels tend to be higher. When possible, encourage outdoor play in the mornings when pollen levels are lower.
• Have children change their clothes or shower after playing outside when pollen is high.
• Consider face masks to help reduce pollen exposure if kids want to play outside on high-pollen days.
• Close doors and windows to reduce indoor pollen.
• Use high-quality filters in your air-conditioning unit and vacuum cleaner to remove allergens from the air.
• Rinse your kids’ sinuses with saline solution to relieve nasal congestion.

Modern allergy medications are also quite effective at helping children with their seasonal allergy symptoms. Oral antihistamines, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec), fexofenadine (Allegra) and loratadine (Claritin) can be taken daily with minimal side effects and help many manage their seasonal allergy symptoms. There are also effective over-the-counter nasal sprays.

When to See an Allergist

Of course, if your child’s quality of life is impacted by severe allergy symptoms, such as asthma, itchiness, persistent sneezing or red, itchy eyes (among other symptoms), then it’s certainly worth a visit with an allergist/immunologist to help get them relief. The Division of Allergy & Immunology at Nicklaus Children’s has an excellent track record of diagnosing and treating seasonal allergy symptoms in children.

Many children with severe allergy symptoms find relief from allergy shots, which are injections given at the allergy clinic on a weekly to semi-weekly basis. Over time, these injections reduce the body’s immune reaction to allergens and makes symptoms significantly milder. Your allergist/immunologist can also help you form an action plan for treating your child’s symptoms with the right mix of medications and preventive measures.