Ah-Choo! : Quake Damage, Winds and Rain Fuel Hay Fever Epidemic in Southland

Just when you thought the aftershocks had subsided, doctors are warning of yet another repercussion of the Northridge earthquake: runny noses, sneezing and coughing.

With pollen and mold spore counts running five to eight times higher than normal, the symptoms of hay fever have kept many children and workers at home, school and county health officials said Thursday.

The high counts result from heavy rains that caused robust growth in weeds, flowers and pollinating trees, and from rain-soaked, previously unnoticed cracks in walls and roofs that provide moist havens for the growth of molds.

Combined with Santa Ana winds gusting across Southern California, the conditions provide a perfect prescription for a dramatic increase in illness, officials said.

“Just look around--everything is blooming,� said Dr. Shirley Fannin, director of disease control for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Along with flowers, the less visible spores of mold are also wafting in the breeze, she said.

Problems can be particularly acute in the north and west San Fernando Valley and in Ventura County, where a fungus commonly found in topsoil can cause an increase in cases of coccidioidomycosis, Fannin said. She described symptoms as “like a very bad cold that hangs on and on and on.�

“Many people don’t realize they have mold growing right next to them in their house,� said Dr. Sheldon Spector, a Brentwood allergist who performs pollen and spore counts for the Los Angeles chapter of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Spector said he discovered during the rains that a crack in the wall of his own home in Santa Monica had allowed mold to gain a firm foothold. “It was earthquake damage, but we didn’t even know it until the heavy rains caused the crack to actually start dripping,� he said.

One patient was unable to explain her heightened allergic reactions until she hired an inspector who found mold growing in her Santa Monica apartment, Spector said. She has moved out until the spores can be eradicated.

“It’s a bad time for anyone who suffers from tree pollen or mold allergies,� said Spector, who added that the pollen and spore counts this year are far higher than they have been for at least four years.

David Lofgren, plant information consultant for the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum in Arcadia, said that among the most common producers of pollen at this time of year are cottonwood trees, alders and all varieties of oaks. He also said the valleys, canyons and deserts are teeming with wildflowers, including tansies, verbena, the yellow daisy-like flowers of the brittle bush and a variety of delphiniums.

“This has been a very good year for flowers and many of the trees have just finished releasing their pollens,� Lofgren said.

Experts said the best way to avoid problems is to stay indoors during windy periods, particularly in the morning, and to use air conditioning or other filtering devices. Free information and brochures are available from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation at (800) 624-0044.

Santa Ana winds and temperatures that have been running 10 degrees higher than normal since Tuesday are expected to decrease later today, according to WeatherData Inc., which provides weather information for The Times.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

The Nose Knows Spring

Unusually high pollen and mold spore counts this spring are compounding hay fever symptoms of allergy sufferers.

What is pollen?

The male parts of a flower produce pollen grains that contain sperm cells that fertilize the female parts of other flowers.

A Close-Up

Pollen grains vary in shape. Their diameter 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.

Mold Spores

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

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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. * See a doctor for treatment and advice.

Sources: Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America