Fall allergy season ramps up in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Fall season is here, but for those who have allergies, the weather-change may be troubling. 

“Now we are hitting the second biggest season of the year and that is fall. In the fall there is weed allergy and what I mean by that is ragweed. Ragweed is a number one allergen that we see, and it grows on the side of the road along construction sites,” said Dr. Mark Cromie, Pediatric and Adult Allergist with the Chattanooga Allergy Clinic. 

Ragweed is not all, pollen and mold spores are reaching extreme levels during autumn.

Symptoms of fall allergies can include itchy or runny nose, watery eyes and more. 

“The problem with the fall is it is a combination of not only allergy season but viral season. So, the kids are back in school, COVID is back, and the rhinovirus,” said Dr. Cromie. “Everybody gets strep throat. Then there is flu season ahead of us. So, it is often confusing for our patients, particularly our asthmatics.”

Allergy problems can originate not just from the outdoors, but from inside our homes as well. 

To fight allergies, certified allergists suggest closing your windows, purifying the air and avoiding tracking pollen inside. 

Most importantly, there is treatment available for those with seasonal allergies. 

“People come to us for an all-natural therapy called immunotherapy. We are able to change their immune system by giving them teeny bits of what they are allergic to. It is an all-natural approach. There is a cure, and most people are done. They have less sinus infections, less exacerbations of asthma, and less need to go to the emergency rooms,” said Dr. Cromie.