Article: Allergy season hits the Bay Area one month early.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

SAN JOSE, Calif. _ No, you're not imagining it: Spring allergy season has officially arrived, settling in the Bay Area nearly one month earlier than usual, much to the surprise of hay fever patients and physicians alike.

At a time when the flu should be responsible for the majority of doctor visits, family physicians and allergy specialists report they're being flooded with calls by coughing, sneezing and itching patients seeking instant relief from their annoying symptoms.

Blame the weather, which brought an abundance of rain in December and which helped trees and grasses grow. January's cold spell meant that trees were dormant. Then February's warm ...

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