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Doctor: Allergy season now reaching its peak

JANESVILLE — You don't have to tell an allergy sufferer the season is in full swing.

The good news: It's at its peak, one local allergist said.

Dr. Ronald Ragotzy, an allergist at Mercy Hospital, said ragweed season kicks in about mid-August and runs until the first frost.

As far as area doctors can tell, however, the number of people suffering from allergies is average.

"We're not seeing a lot of new people who are really suffering," Ragotzy said. "But it's out there."

While allergy sufferers may think this year is the worst, it could be because recent years haven't been that bad, he said.

"Even an average year looks bad," he said.

The main allergic reactions come from trees in spring and grasses in summer, but ragweed bothers people the most, Ragotzy said. Mold allergies also are happening. If your allergies improve after the first frost, you're probably allergic to ragweed, Ragotzy said. If it continues after the frost, it's likely mold that you're allergic to.

Sufferers have three ways to feel better, Ragotzy said:

-- Avoid pollen

That means getting out of the Midwest, "so that's not real practical," he said. But staying inside does help.

-- Medication

A whole slew of options are available, many of which are now over-the-counter drugs such as Claritin or Zyrtec. However, what works for one person may not work for another, Ragotzy said.

-- Immunotherapy

Allergy shots are one way to get rid of allergies for good by trying to change the immune system to not react, but it takes three to five years. Ragotzy usually has his patients start with a weekly shot for 20 weeks then, then monthly for three to five years.

Drops are the latest form, which can be taken at home under the tongue. Drops are taken daily for three to five years.

Both forms work "extremely well" for pollens, but not for molds, Ragotzy said.