On top of everything else, this has been a bad allergy season! Juniper pollen counts exceeded 2,000 grains per cubic meter of air on April 25 in Durango. We have not seen this level since 2011.
People are miserable, and many have previously received “allergy shots” when symptoms get bad. It is important to know that “allergy shots” given once or twice a year are actually steroid shots.
There is limited data on the use of steroid shots in the current pandemic. The CDC does have evidence that steroids can increase viral replication if you were to become infected. Therefore, the risk-benefit ratio is not known, and steroid shots should be avoided for now.
First-line treatment for allergy symptoms are all over-the-counter and include antihistamines, nasal steroids (not known to be harmful in viral infection) and eye drops.
We are all at home anyway, so stay inside, especially during the windy afternoons. Juniper counts should be down by mid-May.
W. Donald Cooke, MDDurango
