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Springfield, Ohio — Pick any street or park in Springfield and you're going to find rows of beautiful, flowering trees. Pick any doctor's waiting room in town and you're going to find rows of sneezing, itchy-eyed people.

Weather conditions that produced spring's colorful display have helped multiply and spread the pollen that affects so many people this time of year, said Dr. William Parker of Allergy & Asthma Associates of Springfield and Beavercreek.

"Spring is always a busy time but I've been speaking with colleagues and we're all seeing an exceptionally bad tree season," Parker said. Heavy preseason rains, followed by dry, breezy conditions created the bumper crop of pollen, he said.

Eyes are the most frequent victim of pollen allergies. In fact many of the children Parker has seen in his office have been sent home from school because school officials suspected pink eye. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 4 percent of the 50 million allergy sufferers in America lists eye allergies as their primary problem.

In addition to eye allergies, Parker, who heads the allergy division at Children's Medical Center in Dayton, has seen new asthma cases pop up this year. He recommended that people who are prone to asthma should be prepared for possible acute attacks.

"If you haven't used them for awhile, relocate your inhalers and make sure they have not expired," he said.

For nonasthmatics, over-the-counter medications can help with symptoms, he said. Parents of small children should check with their children's doctor before administering medications.

How are your allergies?

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