Achoo Syndrome?

No. Achoo syndrome is not the name for the widespread sneeze attack in the Atlanta area yesterday as a result of the 2nd highest ever recorded pollen count of 5,861! Of course pollen.com says not to worry about all that pine pollen:

On Pollen.com, we cannot list every species that is pollinating, only the leading three in terms of actual pollen counts and the allergenicity of the plant. Pine pollen typically does not cause allergies and is usually considered to be a nonallergenic plant. Pine trees do produce enormous amounts of pollen, covering surfaces with the yellow”dust", but generally does not cause allergic symptoms. Because of this, we typically don’t list pine as a predominant pollen.

Hmmm. Would you locals say there's more oxygen or pine pollen in the air? It's debatable. Now, about achoo syndrome (from medterms.com):

Achoo syndrome is a disorder characterized by nearly uncontrollable paroxysms of sneezing provoked in a reflex fashion by the sudden exposure of a dark-adapted subject to intensely bright light, usually to brilliant sunlight. The number of successive sneezes is usually 2 or 3, but can be up to about 40. The achoo syndrome is also called the photic sneeze reflex or the helio-ophthalmic outburst syndrome.

The syndrome is much more common than has been generally recognized. In one study it was found in 23% of medical students. The syndrome is one of the most frequent of all known genetic traits. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, affecting males and females alike, who have a 50:50 chance of passing the achoo gene to each of their children who will have the disorder. The syndrome was first described in 1978.

One physician reported that he had suffered from photic sneezing for over 20 years and, having just learned of the existence of the syndrome, found that the "symptoms are more easily tolerated if you can put a name to them, even if that produces only an illusory understanding of their significance." He commented on the potential hazards of photic sneezing if it occurs while one is driving a car on a sunny day. Tunnels and shadows created by tall buildings and forested terrain can induce sneezing upon re-entering the bright sunlight.

That's a syndrome? I thought everybody had that! How many of you would diagnose yourself with achoo syndrome?