Pollen is in the Air: It’s Hay Fever Season

Over 25% of Adults and Close to 20% of Children Have Seasonal Allergies in the US

It’s that time of year when flowers bloom and pollen fills the air, causing many to suffer from hay fever (allergic rhinitis). Below are some facts on hay fever and pollen—microscopic egg-shaped male cells of plants—in preparation for traversing the great outdoors.

1. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25.7% of adults and 18.9% of children in the US had seasonal allergies in 2021.

2. According to a 2022 study by researchers at the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in France, the median prevalence of allergic rhinitis in adults worldwide was 18.1%.

3. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences provides a list of pollen-releasing plants. These include ragweeds, trees, and grasses, such as the Bermuda and Kentucky varieties. People with tree pollen allergies are urged to avoid elm, oak, pecan and walnut trees, among others.

4. Hay fever can also be caused by dust mites, pet hair/dander, cockroaches, or mold.

5. Some recommendations to reduce exposure to allergens include using air conditioning and keeping windows closed while indoors, wearing glasses or sunglasses while outside, and not hanging clothes outside to dry.

6. Irritants, such as wood smoke, tobacco smoke, and aerosol sprays, can worsen hay fever symptoms.

7. For those in the US, pollen.com provides a pollen forecast for select cities across the country. Along with an index for pollen amounts, the forecast shows the top allergen sources on that day.

Sources:

• https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/allergies.htm

• https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/clt2.12130

• https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/allergens/pollen

• https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/hay-fever/

• https://www.healthline.com/health/hay-fever-symptoms 

• https://www.pollen.com/map