Everything You Need to Know About Texas Cedar Fever

Cedar fever in Texas makes thousands of people miserable every year. Despite its name, Texas cedar fever is not an infection that causes fever. Like hay fever, this allergic disorder is brought on by high air levels of cedar or juniper pollen. It is a form of allergic rhinitis most common in wooded areas like central Texas. The Austin and San Antonio regions are among the most highly affected areas.  Though most common in Texas, this condition occurs in other states, too.

What is Texas Cedar Fever?

This is a seasonal allergic reaction to the pollen released by mountain cedar trees, most commonly the Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei). These trees grow in enormous numbers in central Texas. Breezes carry the pollen far and wide. People sensitive to the pollen develop the symptoms of Texas cedar fever.

Apart from Texas, mountain cedar trees grow in Arkansas, Arizona, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Male trees produce pollen in the winter. 

When Is Cedar Fever in Texas?

Unlike springtime allergies or summertime allergies, Texas cedar fever is most intense in winter. Most often, the season for this disorder runs from December to February, but people may experience symptoms as early as November and as late as March.

Causes of Texas Cedar Fever

Though the signs are similar, Texas cedar fever is not an infection like the flu or a cold. It is a strong allergy to the pollen of the mountain cedar trees that abound in Texas. Unlike most trees that generate pollen, mountain cedar trees release pollen in the winter rather than spring or summer. Each mature mountain cedar can produce as many as one billion grains of pollen.

When pollen grains are breathed in, the body’s immune system sometimes sees them as threats. The body’s defensive systems are activated and release chemicals that generate inflammation and give rise to symptoms. 

Mountain cedar pollen contains four allergens, of which the most important is Jun a 1. People sensitive to mountain cedar pollen may also react to other cedar, juniper, and cypress tree pollen.

Symptoms of Texas Cedar Fever

The common symptoms are: 

• • Watery, running nose

• • Stuffy nose

• • Sneezing

• • Partial loss of smell

• • Itchy, watering eyes

• • Sore throat

• • Difficulty breathing

• • Tiredness

• • Fever (rarely)

The symptoms are confusingly similar to those of COVID-19, a cold, or influenza (the flu). However, those three illnesses are viral infections rather than allergies. With the flu, you’re more likely to have a fever and muscle pains. Texas cedar fever is allergic in origin, and you’re more likely to have itchy eyes, while fever and body aches are rare. 

Knowing the difference can help avoid medicines you don’t need and that won’t help you. Colds and the flu have similar symptoms, but the flu is more severe. These illnesses rarely last beyond two weeks, whereas the allergic symptoms of Texas cedar fever may persist as long as you’re exposed to the allergen (up to six weeks while pollen is being released by the trees). 

As mentioned earlier, Texas cedar fever occurs in the winter, which is also the time when the flu and other respiratory infections are common. Influenza can sometimes cause shortness of breath, dizziness, confusion, severe muscle pain, and flaring up of existing medical conditions. These signs of worsening disease are not seen with Texas cedar fever. If you think you may have the flu, consult a healthcare provider.

Effective Treatments and Management

Several treatment measures are available at urgent care centers to treat cedar fever in Texas. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications like Texas cedar fever drops consist of eye drops that relieve itching. Other useful OTC medications are antihistamines, decongestants, and nose drops. Doctors at urgent care may provide prescription treatment like steroid nasal sprays, if necessary. 

If your symptoms are not relieved by these treatments, another option is immunotherapy. The immune system can become less responsive to pollen after exposure to carefully measured amounts of pollen extracts. Immunotherapy takes three to five years to be effective. 

Cedar pollen floats for miles, so cutting down the trees in your neighborhood won’t help. Some measures can help you reduce symptoms:

• • Apply petroleum jelly below your nostrils to trap pollen.

• • Keep windows and doors shut as much as possible. 

• • Install a pollen filter in the air vents of your car.

• • Vacuum regularly. Dust with a damp cloth.

• • Dry clothes indoors to avoid catching pollen. 

• • Stay indoors as much as possible during the pollen season.

• • Change your clothes and shower after you’ve been outside.

Get Treated at Urgent Care in Texas

Urgent care clinics in Texas provide exceptional, compassionate, and affordable health care at convenient places and times, staying open longer than your regular healthcare provider. 

However, urgent care clinics vary in their level of equipment and expertise. Next Level Urgent Care clinics are staffed by licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, experienced physician assistants, medical assistants, and X-ray technologists with training in emergency medicine, primary care, pediatrics, internal medicine, and sports medicine. These clinics offer patient care for non-life or limb-threatening urgent needs such as breathlessness, injuries, bites and stings, high blood pressure, and more. Seasonal allergy care and treatment for food allergies are among the many services offered.

Urgent care centers are available as walk-in medical care for urgent situations. Unlike with your regular physician, you don’t need an appointment at urgent care centers and can walk in if your symptoms become distressing. Urgent care facilities are an advantageous option when you want immediate care for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

Next Level Urgent Care’s mission is to provide accessible, high-quality medical care to Texas communities. Our 45-plus clinics across the state offer affordable and effective care when you need it. Our clinics are in your communities all across Texas and are open every day from 9 am to 9 pm. Walk in today, or get in line or schedule through the Next Level app.