C.O.’s mild winter jump-starts early pollen, allergy season

Juniper pollen count highest seen in years

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- If you find yourself sneezing or having itchy eyes, it's probably because of the high count of juniper pollen bringing an early bout of allergies to many in Central Oregon.

Due to this year's mild winter allergy season is expected to be much longer, kicking off almost six weeks early. This year's pollen level is one of the highest we've seen in years past.

Allergist Adam Williams at the Summit Medical Group Bend Memorial Clinic said Monday me people who suffer from juniper allergies are facing much worse symptoms this year. He said many people are also confused between whether they have symptoms of COVID- 19 versus allergies.

"It's a lot of ways to tell the difference, actually," Williams said. "COVID-19 is classically a form of pneumonia, which is a lung infection, whereas allergies are mainly a condition that affect the eyes and nose. So itchy watery eyes, itching nose, sneezing, coughing, congestion -- those are typical allergy symptoms, whereas coronavirus symptoms are going to be more of shortness of breath, cough or fever."

Williams also said if you're experiencing headaches or achy muscles, you are more likely to be having possible COVID-19 symptoms than allergies.

For seasonal allergies, he recommended taking newer antihistamines and allergy and nasal sprays, and staying indoors to avoid allergy flare-ups.