MAYWOOD, Ill. (CBS) — It may still seem like summer for all intents and purposes, but fall allergy season is in full swing.

As WBBM Newsradio’s John Waelti reports, the first week of September is the worst time of the entire year for people who suffer from ragweed allergies, according to Loyola University Health System allergist Dr. Joseph Lejia.

Lejia says recent rainfall is also creating problems for people sensitive to mold.

“The rain creates more problems with allergies, but at the same time too, the rain helps to increase production of pollen in the air from weeds,” he said.

Lejia warns parents not to leave their children’s allergies untreated too long.

“If you don’t control the allergies properly, they will develop asthma, and later on, they develop, they’ll get respiratory infections,” he said.

The best remedy, says Lejia, is to stay in a climate-controlled environment for the next couple of weeks.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s John Waelti reports