Advice for the allergy stricken

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Signs of spring are everywhere: trees are in bloom, pollen's covering cars and allergy sufferers are definitely suffering.

"Sometimes they make you cough too much and you get itchy and your eyes turn red," said 7-year-old allergy sufferer Ayanna Brooks.

Her Mom tries to keep her indoors as much as possible.

"She just went to the doctor today because she's breaking out in all these hives, " said Robin Brooks.

Doctor Mark Hippenstiel is seeing a lot of patients at Patient First in Virginia Beach, but some aren't sure wether to blame mother nature or a cold virus.

He told us "itching and watering of the eyes and nose, itchy throat and a bit of a cough and sneezing are the big symptoms we see...."

He says colds are usually more acute, or short lived, while allergies may last all season. He added, with colds you usually don't get the itchy eyes and sneezing.

To avoid allergens, he suggests you stay indoors and keep the windows closed, especially in the early morning when pollen counts are highest - between 5 and 10 a.m. Then reach for some over-the-counter relief.

Robin Brooks says, "Just giving her Benadryl has helped my daughter a lot."

The doctor also recommends Claritin and Zyrtec. Other stronger medications are available by prescription.

"If it's driving you nuts certainly go to see your doctor because usually there's some medication they can find that will help."

Allergy shots may also help build your body's resistance over time and time is the only guarantee  for relief.

Unfortunately the pollen isn't going anywhere anytime soon.