Although summer heat persists, those suffering from allergic rhinitis are already expressing that “autumn has arrived.”
On August 26, various online communities saw an influx of posts from allergy sufferers sharing their experiences.
In the posts, individuals reported, “Suddenly, I have a runny nose and am sneezing a lot, and my eyes are itchy.” They described symptoms such as, “I have been dripping with a runny nose since morning,” “I can’t stop sneezing,” and “My eyes are so itchy that I keep rubbing them,” leading them to conclude, “Isn’t this a sign that autumn is coming?”
One user noted, “Recently, I suddenly started having a runny nose and sneezing a lot from the morning,” adding, “My eyes are so itchy due to allergies.”
Other users commented on the simultaneous onset of allergy symptoms, saying, “It still looks like summer outside, but those with allergies can sense the seasonal change first,” and “Allergy sufferers are starting to show common reactions; autumn is finally coming.”
Indeed, autumn is a time when allergic rhinitis symptoms are likely to flare up. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, pollen from weeds primarily occurs between August and October, with common allergens including ragweed and mugwort.
Past analyses by the Ministry of Environment and the Environmental Health Center at Inha University have shown that the number of allergic rhinitis patients tends to increase from late August. The analysis indicated that pollen levels in September are among the highest of the year, coinciding with the peak number of allergic rhinitis cases.
Typical symptoms of allergic rhinitis include repeated sneezing, clear nasal discharge, and nasal congestion. Itching and redness around the eyes and nose may also occur. While symptoms can resemble those of a cold, they often do not include fever, and if symptoms recur in specific seasons or environments, allergies may be suspected.
However, it cannot be definitively concluded that the season has changed based solely on rhinitis symptoms. Various allergy-inducing factors, such as temperature changes, pollen, dust mites, and fine dust, can also influence symptoms.
Nevertheless, for those who experience rhinitis symptoms around the same time each year, sudden sneezing and a runny nose are perceived as a kind of ‘signal’ indicating a change in the season.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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