For some, the early summer months are full of sniffling, sneezing and runny eyes. Tree and grass pollen allergies tend to begin in April and last until the end of June.

When certain allergies flare up for people, depends on the time of year. In the winter, when people tend to be inside more, those with dust allergies have more noticeable symptoms.

Those who have fall allergies are reacting to ragweed.

No matter the season, when allergies strike, it can affect a person's daily life.

"These are expensive symptoms because they make you unable to do your work," said Dr. David Strobel, at Austin Medical Center.

Nasal symptoms are the most common for those with oak and grass pollen allergies. These reactions are caused by E antibodies responding to the allergen. That reaction releases histamines, which causes nasal or respiratory problems.

To prevent that reaction, doctors usually prescribe an antihistamine. Some can be bought over the counter. Some drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, can have side effects that make the patient feel tired, Strobel said. Patients who have allergies should let their doctor know if the drugs are affecting their attentiveness during the day.

Sometimes, AMC will immunize people against allergies. But the doctor needs to know exactly what the patient is allergic to in order to administer the right vaccine.

This isn't as easy as it sounds. There are multitudes of allergens in the world and it's almost impossible to know everything a person is allergic to without extensive, expensive testing, Strobel said.

Doctors can run test to see if a person is allergic to a certain allergen, but they must have some idea of what it is the patient could be allergic to, Strobel said.

The immunization is also time-consuming, requiring shots weekly at first and then every two weeks. Patients interested in this treatment need to talk to their family physician and an allergist before pursuing this option.

Strobel warns patients to stay away from steroid injections to treat allergies. The steroids put the patient at a higher risk for developing conditions such as cataracts, diabetes and glaucoma.

Strobel said allergies are becoming more common in the United States. One theory for this increase is that bacterial infections are being treated too aggressively, which doesn't allow the immune system to react to them.

Most patients with allergies know about them by the time they're teenagers, if not earlier. But allergies can be discovered any time. Strobel recently treated an 86 year old who developed a peanut allergy.

For more information on allergies and treatment, contact your family physician.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at :mailto:cari.quam@austindailyherald.com