About Allergies: April Showers Bring Grass Allergy Season

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Allergies Allergies Symptoms / Diagnosis Treatment Coping From Daniel More, MD, your Guide to Allergies After the April rains stop, and the weather warms up, and the flowers bloom -- the grass begins to grow and pollinate. May is grass allergy season in much of the country, which causes many allergy sufferers to be absolutely miserable. Whether a person is mowing the lawn, golfing, or just spending some quality time outdoors, airborne grass pollen can wreak havoc on a person's allergy symptoms. Grass pollen causes a wide array of allergy symptoms, the most common of which is hay fever. Other symptoms caused by grass allergy include contact urticaria as a result of direct exposure to grass, as well as a form of food allergy secondary to proteins in grass pollen being closely related to those in fresh tomatoes. All About Grass Pollen Allergy Grass pollen is known to cause a variety of different allergic reactions. Grass pollen is present in the air in the late spring and early summer months, which can cause allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and asthma. Direct skin contact with grass, from sitting in the grass or mowing the lawn, can cause itching of the skin -- urticaria and atopic dermatitis. Grass allergy can also be associated with the fruit pollen syndrome resulting in food allergies to tomatoes, potatoes and peaches. See More About:  pollen allergy  summer allergies  oral allergy syndrome Summer Pollen Allergy Grass pollen is usually the predominant pollen in the air during the summer. Allergy to this pollen can cause sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes, as well as cause asthma attacks in some people. Other people get hives and itching after touching or sitting in the grass. Tomato Allergy and Grass Pollen Allergies to grass can predispose a person to the oral allergy syndrome (OAS) caused by cross-reactivity between proteins in fresh fruits and vegetables and grass pollen. Grass pollen allergy is associated with OAS to tomatoes, potatoes and peaches. The proteins in the fruits and vegetables that cause OAS are easily broken down with cooking or processing; therefore symptoms don't usually occur with cooked or processed foods like tomato sauce. See More About:  oral allergy syndrome  food allergies  Allergies Ads Allergy Forecast Allergies Pollen Allergy Grass Pollen Hay Fever Allergies Featured Articles Allergy Basics Frequently Asked Questions Nose and Eye Allergies Skin Allergies Asthma and Lung Allergies Common Allergy Issues in Children   More from About.com Backyard Chickens 101 Dabble in the self-sufficient, eco-friendly life with these essential chicken-raising tips. More> 24 Amazing Container Gardens These gorgeous and creative gardens prove it doesn't take a lot of space to create something special. More> This newsletter is written by: Daniel More, MD Allergies Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Allergies newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2011 About.com   Must Reads What are Allergies? Symptoms of Allergies Diagnosis of Allergies Treatment of Allergies Preventing Allergies Advertisement