About 25 percent of people suffer from some type of allergy, said Dr. David Plaxico, who specializes in adult and pediatric allergies and keeps up with local pollen counts for weather reports. This week's count indicates moderate levels of tree and mold pollen. There is no pollen for grasses and weeds. For trees, a moderate count is 15 to 90 grains of pollen per cubic meter, and for molds that is 900 to 2,500 grains per cubic meter. A moderate pollen count means that many of those who are sensitive to these pollens will experience symptoms.
Allergies do run in families.
Symptoms can range from itchy or swollen eyes to runny nose and sinus pain or congestion. He plans to take a new count for the Macon area later this week. The rain will flush the tree pollen down and increase the molds. There is a slight chance the rain will return Thursday with showers and thunderstorms in the forecast. Temperatures are still forecast to reach the 80-degree mark.