ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – Allergists warn that peak ragweed season can be a dangerous time for people who have allergies, especially children with allergies. With late-summer upon us, millions of Americans will suffer the misery of allergies brought on by ragweed season.

But allergists, doctors who specialize in treatment of allergies and asthma, want people to know that increasing amounts of ragweed pollen in the air also can trigger life-threatening asthma symptoms such as wheezing and difficulty breathing.

Children with allergies are particularly at risk of developing asthma during peak pollen seasons. A three-year study of children with seasonal allergies found that 1 in 5 experienced asthma symptoms during pollen season, even though they had no previously reported history of asthma.

Ragweed pollen is the number-one cause of seasonal allergies. Ragweed, which is a flowering weed also known as bitterweed, flourishes in nearly every region of the country. Ragweed plants typically begin releasing pollen around mid-August, peaking in mid-September and lasting between six and eight weeks in most northern states. Southern states usually experience peak conditions in late-September or mid-October.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) recommends that adults and children with allergy symptoms see an allergist for diagnosis and ask for an asthma check-up if one or more of the following is true:

• Frequent coughing at night
• Family history of asthma
• Exposure to tobacco smoke or allergens in the home such as pets, cockroaches or dusty environments
• Wheezing, chest tightness, or difficulty breathing, particularly during or immediately after spending time outdoors

For more information about allergies, asthma and treatment options, call the ACAAI toll free number at (800) 842-7777 or visit its Web site at www.acaai.org.

The ACAAI is a professional medical organization comprising nearly 5,000 qualified allergists-immunologists and related health care professionals. The College is dedicated to the clinical practice of allergy, asthma and immunology through education and research to promote the highest quality of patient care.