AAAAAACHOO! IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN: ALLERGY SEASON

Unfortunately for allergy sufferers, common ragweed grows well in Southeast Missouri.

Ambrosia, nector of the gods in Greek mythology, provides for great strength and immortality. The ambrosia in our area, more commonly called ragweed, certainly falls into the category of having great strength and seeming immortality.

At least that's the way most suffers of hayfever might describe it. Many medical authorities and allergy sufferers rank ragweed as the worst allergen in the United States.

Fall allergy season started Aug. 15 for most of the United States according to the National Allergy Bureau. Local pollen counts have been high with ragweed as the predominate pollen.

Dr. Michael Critchlow, Allergy Partners, P.A., said the time is right for hayfever sufferers in this area. "The stuffy and itchy nose, red eyes and scratchy throat are common allergy symptoms," he said.

Ragweed seeds are stimulated to germinate when soil is disturbed. The plants are one of the first things to grow at construction sites and are usually prevalent along the sides of roads.

Ragweed plants can range from a few inches to more than 12 feet in height. Each ragweed plant is capable of producing one billion pollen grains per average season.

The grains are small and light and are therefore carried easily in the air.

"You do not have to be in sight of ragweed to be bothered by it," said Dr. Critchlow. "But you can see it almost anywhere in this area," he added.

Staying away from the pollen will be a difficult task for most people. Some helpful hints are to keep the windows closed in your home and car and use air conditioning whenever possible as this filters some of the pollen out of the air. Do not hang clothing or sheets outside to dry. They will collect pollen and mold.

Ragweed begins to pollinate in the morning. Counts are highest by late afternoon and early evening.

Avoid the outdoors as much as possible, but if you do have to be out, try to do outside chores early in the morning. Clothing and shoes worn outside should be left outside or washed in hot water as soon as possible.

Dr. Critchlow warns that just because plants begin to die out, this doesn't mean the pollen is gone. It usually takes a good killing frost before many sufferers find relief.

Larry Heggemann, private land specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation says that ragweed isn't inherently evil.

The seeds from the ragweed plant are very compatible with wildlife and provide necessary nutrients that will sustain them from late fall into winter.

The common and giant ragweed varieties in this area produce the largest number of seeds. The conservation department actually manages parcels of land which contain large amounts of ragweed.

Heggemann was quick to add that his department doesn't plant ragweed so they aren't to blame for the problems faced by hayfever sufferers.