Tree pollen here peaks March through June, while weed pollen is worst from July through October. Ragweed, the most bothersome weed allergy, peaks from August until the first frost. Travelers should keep in mind that the peak pollen seasons differ from region to region. Absolutely, Waickman said. A bad winter can lead to a bad allergy season, too.
People can have new exposures to allergens at any age.
For example, a recent retiree who trades in an office job for the greens of a golf course can suddenly develop an allergy to grass pollen. Although many young children with allergies see their symptoms wane by adolescence, they can't outgrow their genetic predisposition to allergies, said Dr. Rajeev Kishore, director of the division of allergy and immunology for Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron. If one parent has allergies, there's about a 40 percent chance the child will have allergies, Kishore said. If both parents have allergies, the child has about a 55 percent chance of developing them. In about half the cases, even children who appear to outgrow an allergy will have symptoms return by their late 20s or 30s, he said.