Warmer temperatures and rain indicate the arrival of spring. It is also season of sneezing due to seasonal allergies. According to reports, over 50 million individuals across the United States suffer from outdoor allergies that break out usually in spring season and last well into first frost of autumn.

Karine Thevenin-Smaltz, a staff physician at the Patient First Neighborhood Medical Center in Mechanicsburg, said that pollen, grass and ragweed are biggest triggers of the outdoor allergies. Symptoms of seasonal allergy include runny nose, itchy eyes, nasal congestion and cough. According to Thevenin-Smaltzm, allergy systems could differ from upper respiratory infections, whose symptoms also involve nasal congestion, runny nose and cough.

Johnson Coyle, lead physician at Spirit Urgent Care-Carlisle, said that pollen grains could be among the biggest triggers of the outdoor allergies. When pollen grains get into an individual's nose, who is allergic, their immune system kicks into overdrive.

Thevenin-Smaltz further said that upper respiratory infections are different from seasonal allergies and resolve on their own. Such allergies don't involve any fever, according to Thevenin-Smaltz, who also works as an assistant medical director at Patient First's Colonial Park office in Dauphin County.

Beth Stoneberger, an administrative assistant at Carlisle's Medical Arts Allergy P. C., said that she usually suffers from the seasonal allergy. According to Stoneberger, her outdoor allergy symptoms often remain late into the year until the second frost of autumn. Without any medication, she suffers runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing, Stoneberger added.

According to health experts, to reduce symptoms of the allergy, sufferers should close windows and use air conditioners to decrease the amount of pollen that enters the home. In addition, people should minimize their outdoor activity between 5 and 10 am.

Coyle said, "If you're outside when the pollen count is high, you can pick up pollen in your hair, on your face and on your clothes. And it is worse if it's windy - wind stirs the pollen around".