Allergens by Geographical Region
If your allergy symptoms worsen when you go outside, you are probably reacting to pollens or mold spores in the air. An estimated 35 million Americans are allergic to these airborne allergens.
Seasonal patterns
In most people, reactions to these allergens tend to happen in seasonal patterns that correspond to the life cycles of plants. For example:
- Tree pollen is often found in the air in the spring, so if you're allergic to trees, you're most likely to experience symptoms during this season.
- Grass pollens are most prevalent in the late spring through summer
- Weed pollens cause problems from spring to fall.
In some parts of the country, however, pollen can cause problems almost all year long — for example, grass pollen is found nearly year-round in southern Florida.
Geographic differences
Click on a region of the map to learn which pollens cause allergies in that area.
Pollen seasons vary from one part of the country to another. The closer you live to the equator, the earlier the season starts. In fact, pollen can cause problems as early as January in the southernmost parts of the United States.
Seasonal allergies occur most often in the spring and late summer, the times of year when allergenic plants produce most of their pollen. There is a very predictable pattern to the pollen release:
- In the first weeks of spring, trees like the elm, maple, and birch release their pollen, followed by the ash, sycamore and oak.
- Later in the spring and early summer, grass pollens spread into the air, often starting in early May and lasting through mid-July.
- Various weeds can begin to pollinate in the spring (such as sage) or summer (such as plantain). However, the dominant weeds (for example, ragweed) often produce their allergens in the late summer to fall, a process that may continue until the first frost.
- Molds are usually present in the fall, when leaves are decaying. However, they can cause problems at other times too - whenever conditions are damp or humid. In warm, humid climates, for example, molds can thrive outdoors all year long.
Traveling with allergies
If you travel to different parts of the country, you might sometimes think your symptoms are following you. For example, if you spend your summers in the north and travel south for the winter, you may experience symptoms throughout the year if you're allergic to the allergens found in each place.
CLARINEX®, a prescription medication, treats year-round allergy symptoms and ongoing hives of unknown cause, in adults and children 6 months and older, and seasonal allergy symptoms in patients 2 years and older. CLARINEX® 5 mg Tablets and 5 mg RediTabs® Tablets are approved for patients 12 years and older; CLARINEX® 2.5 mg RediTabs® Tablets are approved for patients 6 to 11 years; CLARINEX® Syrup is approved for patients 6 months and older.
Twice-daily CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR Extended Release Tablets and once-daily CLARINEX-D® 24 HOUR Extended Release Tablets treat the symptoms of seasonal allergies, including nasal congestion, in patients 12 years and older.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
CLARINEX® Tablets side effects in patients 12 years and older were similar to placebo and included sore throat, dry mouth, and fatigue for seasonal and year-round allergy patients, and headache, nausea, and fatigue for patients with ongoing hives of unknown cause.
CLARINEX® Syrup side effects in children 6 to 11 years were similar to placebo. For children 6 months to 5 years, syrup side effects varied by age and included fever, diarrhea, upper respiratory infection, irritability, and coughing.
Due to their pseudoephedrine component, CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR Extended Release Tablets and CLARINEX-D® 24 HOUR Extended Release Tablets should not be taken by patients with narrow-angle glaucoma (abnormally high eye pressure), difficulty urinating, severe high blood pressure, or severe heart disease, or by patients who have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor within the past fourteen (14) days. Patients with high blood pressure; diabetes; heart disease; increased intraocular pressure (eye pressure); thyroid, liver or kidney problems; or enlarged prostate should check with their healthcare provider before taking CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR Extended Release Tablets or CLARINEX-D® 24 HOUR Extended Release Tablets.
Care should be used if CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR Extended Release Tablets or CLARINEX-D® 24 HOUR Extended Release Tablets are taken with other antihistamines or decongestants because combined effects on the cardiovascular system may be harmful. The most commonly reported adverse events for CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR Extended Release Tablets were insomnia, headache, dry mouth, fatigue, drowsiness, sore throat, and dizziness. The most commonly reported adverse events for CLARINEX-D® 24 HOUR Extended Release Tablets were dry mouth, headache, insomnia, fatigue, sore throat, and drowsiness.
Click here for important CLARINEX® Tablets/Syrup/RediTabs® Product Information.
Click here for important CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR Product Information.
Click here for important CLARINEX-D® 24 HOUR Product Information.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Note: The information on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have any questions about your treatment or medical condition, please consult your doctor or other qualified health care provider. This site is intended for use by U.S. residents.
