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Rain Could Be Causing Increases In Mold Allergy Symptoms

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – While pollen allergies have subsided, a different allergy has kicked up.

Is it related to the weather?

"As the cloud comes down, it kind of swoops up from the ground and drives up the mold," said Dr. Thomas Mertz with Allergy and Asthma Associates. "At that same point, the pollen decreases or drops."

Mold allergies have doctors' phones ringing.

"My allergies were bad in the spring, and things seemed to have died down, but now they've picked up again," said Dr. Michael Petrosky with Pediatric Alliance.

Experts say it's common, especially in Pittsburgh.

But it's not the expected pattern.

"Mold can be present year-round, usually it's a little bit more in the fall. For example: it being so high right now is a bit atypical," said Mertz.

Some solutions include antihistamines, nasal sprays and avoiding the outdoors right after it rains, if possible.

Depending on how much rain we get, mold allergy symptoms may wax and wane through the summer and fall.

Once the first hard frost comes, the mold outdoors dies down, but you could still have some indoors.

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