Though 67 million people suffer from some type of allergy, many of those afflicted most likely haven't felt a reaction for quite the same reason as Erin Robertson did when she was 16.

"We went to (toilet paper) someone's car and they had just mowed the lawn," the biosystems engineering junior said. "I got home and I had a rash all over."

Unfortunately for Robertson, who is allergic to grass, dogs, cats, tree pollen and dust, her efforts to avoid being seen by passing cars meant she had to lie down in the freshly-cut grass, causing the rash.

Millions of others are suffering similar symptoms including itchy eyes, runny noses and respiratory problems this year as the grass allergy season reaches its apex between late May and mid-July, Lansing allergist Satish Gupta said.

Making conditions worse, Gupta said, recent rains have created an upswing in the amount of indoor and outdoor molds which also can cause suffering.

Even for those people who feel lucky because they haven't yet had to deal with any symptoms, the hardest part of the trip down allergy row is still ahead, Gupta said.

Gupta added that Ragweed season will kick off in the fall and is the part of the year the most widespread problem for sufferers.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology - people are suffering an immune system overreaction to various allergens, such as: pollens, mold spores, animal dander and other usually harmless triggers which cause the sneezing, wheezing, coughing and other symptoms that many people endure.

"I try not to let it get me down," computer science junior Mike Greanya said. "Just about everyone has some sort of allergy problem."

Those who feel symptoms, but aren't sure what causes them, should first try an over-the-counter antihistamine to try to alleviate the symptoms, Gupta said. If that doesn't work, he said see a physician or an allergist who can diagnose and treat the problem.

A primary physician may prescribe a medicine such as Allegra or Claritin, while an allergist like Gupta often tests patients' skin with various allergens to detect a reaction.

If detected, he may direct the patient to begin receiving allergy shots, which are small doses of the afflicting allergen in an attempt to force people's immune systems to become accustomed to the foreign particles.

Journalism senior Traci Carpenter has spoken to her doctor about her symptoms and found relief by taking Claritin once a day when her symptoms get bad, usually in mid-summer.

"I'm not really sure of the specifics, but I know pollen has something to do with it," she said. "I sneeze a lot. When I have it during classes I feel stupid.

"I just pack extra Kleenex."

For Robinson, her trip to the allergist yielded two inhalers and a prescription meant to counteract respiratory problems, which sent her to the emergency room twice as a child.

"It's not so bad anymore," she said. "Both my allergies and asthma have lessened up."

Even when her allergies were bad, she found a way to make them work in her advantage, she said.

"I got out of cleaning the basement and garage," she said.