Students on campus are now treated to the beautiful array of blooming flowers, but the scenery comes at a price. The University’s Student Health Center has reported an increase in students with allergies triggered by the pollen on campus, but officials said the increase is comparable to this time in past years. “[The amount of cases of allergic rhinitis] are more than what we normally see during any other time in the year but comparable to other springs,” said Mendy Escudier, Health Center registered nurse. Allergic rhinitis is the term doctors use for allergy symptoms including nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing and itchy, watery eyes. Escudier said many people are allergic to the pollen – the male spore of plants – in the air during spring time, and there is no way to prevent allergy symptoms. “If you are allergic to pollen in the air, you will have symptoms,” she said. But Escudier said healthy eating and rest do help. Escudier said these allergies are easily treatable. She said the number one treatment is avoidance, but students walking on campus would have trouble avoiding pollen in the air. “We recommend antihistamines like Zyrtec and Claritin,” Escudier said. Some people take one a day through the allergy period until the pollen goes away, which is why those drugs have become over-the-counter medicine, she said. She said if they do not work, students should consult their doctors. Diane Ferguson, biological sciences research associate, said there is so much pollen on campus because of the abundance of wind-pollinating trees such as oaks, pines, hickories and magnolias. “Wind-pollinated plants tend to cause more pollen in the air because they are pollinated by the wind as opposed to insects or other animals,” Ferguson said. She said spring includes a couple of weeks where people really feel the pollination. Ferguson said we are in the peak of the flowering season, and the season should be over by the end of April or early May. Though many students are suffering from allergies resulting from the pollen, some students said they have not been affected. Rachel Perrie, psychology junior, said her only concern is the caterpillars that usually accompany the spring. “I hate coming to campus then,” Perrie said. Antihistamines at the Health Center range from $5 to $12. The Health Center carries the generic versions of both Claritin and Zyrtec.
—-Contact Allen Womble at [email protected]