Mold count higher, more allergy issues

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Summer rain showers help break the heat, but there’s also a downside. They help mold grow. For summer allergy sufferers, this year is very uncomfortable. The mold pollen count has soared.

Itchy eyes, congestion and runny noses are common allergy symptoms. Allergy and Asthma Associates in Northwest Austin are seeing more and more patients complaining of symptoms that just aren’t going away.

“People who get recurrent sinus infections because they’re predisposed by allergies, we see that a lot,” said Dr. Doug Barstow with Allergy and Asthma Associates. “They can interrupt your days at work. They cause you not to sleep at night. They can cause you to miss days at work, days at school. They really can result in very big lifestyle changes.”

Barstow said this year is a big change from 2009 when record drought conditions kept the humidity down.

“Last year, we had really dry weather in the summer, which helped to keep the mold counts down,” said Barstow. “I think that accounts for the lack of mold suffering there was last year.”

Mold needs a moist environment to thrive. It grows on just about everything. You see it on food, in bathrooms and in basements. But, it also grows on the grass, trees and flowers in your yard.

"Their job in nature is to break all those things down and reintegrate them into the soil,” said Barstow. “So molds can grow just about anywhere if they have enough moisture. Both molds indoors and outdoors can cause significant mold allergy problems."

Barstow said when allergy symptoms don't improve or lead to reoccurring sinus infections, it's time to make an appointment to see a physician. When over-the-counter medications or doctor’s prescriptions don’t work, allergy shots are the next option.

It’s an option Austinite, Mark Webb took advantage of.

"I didn’t notice that the molds were high,” said Webb. “I don’t even pay attention to the reports any more."

High mold counts are expected to drop until the end the fall.

"As long as we are seeing warm, wet weather, we’ll see high mold counts and that’s going to continue,” said Barstow. “As the weather starts to cool off, as the humidity drops down, then we typically see the mold counts go down."

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