Why Do My Allergies Get Worse in Late Summer in North Texas?

Late summer allergy flares in the Dallas Fort Worth area are usually driven by ragweed, grass pollen, and outdoor mold, all of which peak while the weather is still hot. That timing surprises people who expect allergy season to end in spring.

Neighborhood Medical Center in Addison, Texas sees this pattern every August, and the visits usually start the same way: a patient who assumed they had a lingering cold that never quite resolved.

What Is Actually in the Air Right Now

North Texas has a long allergy calendar with very little true off-season. In late summer the main contributors tend to be:

• Ragweed, which begins releasing pollen in August and can persist into fall
• Bermuda and other warm-season grasses that keep producing through the heat
• Outdoor mold spores, which climb after rain or heavy humidity
• Indoor dust and pet dander, more noticeable once windows stay closed for air conditioning

Allergies or an Infection?

The distinction matters because the treatments are different. Allergy symptoms tend to be itchy, involve clear drainage, and come and go with exposure and weather.

An infection more often brings fever, body aches, thicker colored drainage, and a sore throat that worsens rather than fluctuates. If a fever appears or symptoms sharpen after several days of improvement, that is worth an evaluation rather than another week of antihistamines.

When It Is Worth Being Seen

Plenty of seasonal allergy symptoms respond to over-the-counter medication. Some situations deserve a visit:

• Symptoms lasting more than two or three weeks without improvement
• Wheezing, chest tightness, or coughing that interferes with sleep
• Repeated sinus infections in the same season
• Over-the-counter medication that has stopped working the way it used to

The last one comes up often, and it usually means the plan needs revisiting rather than a higher dose.

Where Allergies and Asthma Overlap

For many patients, allergy season and breathing problems are the same story. Pollen and mold are common triggers, and an allergy flare can be what tips a stable airway into a bad month.

If coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath is part of your late-summer pattern, that belongs in the conversation. Our approach to asthma and COPD treats the airway and the trigger together rather than separately. Whether a given treatment helps varies from patient to patient, which is why the plan gets built around your specific history.

Testing That Happens During the Visit

When it is unclear whether you are dealing with allergies or something infectious, testing settles it faster than waiting. Neighborhood Medical Center has an in-house lab and X-ray, so bloodwork or a chest image can be done during the same appointment.

That keeps you from spending another week treating the wrong thing, and it means any adjustment to your plan starts the same day rather than the next one.

"Every August I see people who have been fighting what they think is a summer cold for a month," says Dr. Martin G. McElya. "Once we sort out whether it is allergy or infection, the treatment usually gets a lot simpler and a lot faster."

Practical Steps That Reduce Exposure

Small habits make a measurable difference during peak weeks:

• Keep windows shut and run air conditioning rather than fresh air
• Shower and change clothes after extended time outdoors
• Do yard work in the evening, when pollen counts are typically lower
• Replace air filters on schedule instead of when you remember

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does late summer allergy season last in Dallas?

Ragweed generally runs from August into the first cool stretches of fall, which in North Texas can mean November. Grass and mold overlap with it, so many people feel symptoms for several months rather than a few weeks.

Can allergies cause a fever?

Allergies themselves do not typically cause fever. If you have a fever, that points toward an infection or a complication such as sinusitis, and it is a reasonable prompt to be evaluated rather than to keep treating it as allergy.

Should I see someone if over-the-counter medicine is not helping?

Yes. If a medication that used to work has stopped, or you are stacking several products to get through the day, a provider can look at whether something else is going on and adjust the plan.

Stop Guessing and Get It Sorted

Neighborhood Medical Center is at 5917 Belt Line Road in Addison, Texas, open seven days a week. Call or text 972-726-6464, or book an appointment online.