Allergies in midseason form as spring begins in Sonoma County

Famed horticulturist Luther Burbank once proclaimed Santa Rosa and its environs the “chosen spot” on earth for its abundant and diverse plant life.

But allergy sufferers dealing with high pollen levels coming off the region’s trees, grasses and weeds this year might see it as a place of misery.

The dry winter coupled with a recent warming trend has triggered an early bloom, sending billions of microscopic pollen particles into the air - and up the noses - of everyone in sight.

Allergy season is in full force as spring starts today.

“I’m definitely feeling it,” Robert Maddock said Thursday as he walked past a row of blossoming mulberry trees on Administration Drive in Santa Rosa, a white tissue clenched in his hand.

In years past, the itchy eyes, running noses and constant sneezing associated with pollinating plants started in April.

But higher temperatures and limited rain are making the process start sooner.

Dr. Kenneth Kurtz, an allergist with Kaiser Medical Center in Santa Rosa, said it’s shaping up to be an “early and intense” season, much like last year.

Already, he said, patients are lining up for treatment. Anywhere from 5 percent to 20 percent of the population suffers seasonal allergies, he said.

“Last year we had an early season because it was dry,” Kurtz said. “This year may be the same. Plants key off dry and warm weather. That’s when they really start throwing their pollen out.”

Now, he said tree allergies are “going bananas” as maple, elder, sweet gum and pine are produce high levels of pollen.

Grasses will become the main source from about May to June, and weeds will take over in late summer.

“It’s like you can run, but you can’t hide,” he said.

Another local allergist, Dr. Mima Petrick of the Allergy & Asthma Adult and Pediatric Medical Group of the Redwoods, said storms in December and February could create an even worse year for allergy sufferers because trees and grasses will grow more.

Her Petaluma office was bustling Thursday with patients complaining of watery eyes and achy sinuses.

“I believe with the winter rain and the abnormally warm temperatures the last couple months, we’re actually having a bigger and earlier pollen season than last year,” Petrick said.

People can limit the effects of tree-borne pollen by showering and changing clothes after being in the outdoors and by not hanging freshly washed clothes outside to dry.

“Wet clothes will suck up the pollen,” he said.

Also, keeping car windows rolled up and using air conditioning will help. And because plants pollinate from about 5 to 10 a.m., consider walking and hiking later in the day, Kurtz said.

Stay inside on windy days when wind-whipped pollen is flying everywhere, the doctor said.

Contributing to the problem on the North Coast is the wide variety of native and introduced plants, each on their own timetable.

“It’s a terrible place to have allergies,” Kurtz said. “On the other hand, it’s a good place to be an allergist.”

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.