Winds Stir Up Trouble for Allergy Patients : Health: Sufferers should brace for a ‘very bad season,’ Thousand Oaks doctor warns.

The drum of raindrops and the howling of winds have spawned another sound--the sneezes of allergy sufferers.

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“There’s a lot of molds in the air. Very, very high mold counts,” said Dr. Donald Unger, a Thousand Oaks allergist. “I think we’re going to have a very bad season.”

East winds blow dust into Ventura County from the desert and the San Fernando Valley, said Dr. Lewis Kanter, a Camarillo allergist. “That’s what drives people nuts,” he said.

Kanter said there has been “a real upsurge” in allergy complaints over the last 10 days, as rains subsided and winds kicked up. Symptoms include sneezing, asthma and itchy, watery eyes.

“It’s been pretty horrendous,” said Dr. Sanjiv Verma, an Oxnard allergist.

Plants increase their production of seeds and spores when there is plenty of water and sunshine, Kanter said.

“They’re going crazy trying to make baby plants,” he said.

Then the airborne particles cause allergies.

Unger said that as far as he knows, no one monitors pollen levels in Ventura County.

“It’s a pain in the neck,” he said of the procedure, which involves sticking a slide outdoors and than painstakingly counting tiny particles.

But Los Angeles County officials Thursday reported pollen and mold spore counts five to eight times higher than average. In Santa Barbara County, tree pollen counts and mold spore counts were moderate, officials said.

Los Angeles County officials said cracks made by the Northridge earthquake harbor mold that can cause allergies.

Oak and juniper trees, mold and grasses are the main culprits, doctors said. Mold problems may be particularly acute for people whose carpets were soaked by winter flooding or heavy rains, he said.

Later in the season, grasses and olive and maple trees will cause problems for allergy sufferers, doctors said.

The problems may be avoided, doctors said, by keeping car and home windows closed and by using antihistamines at night. Those experiencing difficulty breathing should consult a physician.

And doctors warned not to confuse allergy symptoms with those of a cold virus making the rounds in Ventura County. People with the virus will have a fever, while those with allergies will not, Verma said.

The current allergy situation may seem bad, Unger said, especially compared to the drought years in the late 1980s and early 1990s. But those wiping their noses can take comfort in the fact that it’s much worse back East.

“Out here, people don’t know what bad allergy season is,” Unger said.

Times staff writer Martha L. Willman contributed to this report.

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The Nose Knows Spring

Many trees, grasses and weeds have begun releasing wind- borne pollen. This means sneezing, teary eyes and stuffy noses for the 10% to 20% of people with hay fever, an allergy to plant pollens. An unusually high pollen count this year is compounding symptoms. How badly people suffer can depend on the weather and time of day.

What’s in the Air

The male flower parts produce pollen grains that contain sperm cells. They emerge when pollen lands on the female part of another plant’s flower.

A Close-Up

Pollen grains vary in shape depending on their source. Their width is less than that of a human hair.

The Effect of Rain

Because of heavy rains, trees, weeds and grasses are thriving. The current pollen count from trees, 60, is five times higher than this time last year.

The Quake’s Impact

A mold count of 949, eight times higher than a year ago, may be due to extra mold in buildings caused by earthquake- damaged leaky roofs and cracks in walls.

Tips for Sufferers * Close windows. * Use air conditioner. * Stay indoors in morning and late afternoon. * Avoid yard work or wear face mask. * Antihistamines relieve some symptoms. * Prescriptions may block symptoms. * See a doctor for treatment and advice.

Some Local Culprits Deodar Cedar Tree Brittlebush Valley Oak

The Dally Pollen Cycle 1. Morning Pollen Released: Most plants release pollen in the morning, and it floats up as the ground warms. 2. Afternoon Carried away: It flies farther on dry, windy days. On humid days, moisture weighs it down. 3. Evening Settles to the Ground: When the ground cools, pollen falls back to Earth. *

Weeds: Weeds pollinate from April to November, peaking in August. Local sources such a sagebrush and ragweed aren’t a big problem, but Santa Ana winds can blow weed pollen in from the desert. *

Trees: February is worst for tree pollen, when 10 major types of trees begin pollinating. Pollination continues through April. *

Grasses: Most grasses pollinate from March through October, peaking in May. Sources: Dr. David Walkington, director of Cal State Fullerton Arboretum; Allergy Medical Clinic; Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America.