What Is Cedar Fever?

Written by Martha Anne Tudor
Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on March 17, 2025
5 min read

‌Cedar fever, also called allergic rhinitis, isn’t exactly what it sounds like. It usually doesn't involve a fever. It's not the flu or a virus — it’s an extreme allergy. Cedar fever is common in areas with a lot of mountain cedar or juniper trees, which release a large amount of pollen that can cause strong allergic reactions.

‌One of the main causes of cedar fever is a high concentration of cedar pollen in the air. A small amount of the same pollen wouldn’t have the same effect on your body. But a large amount can give you symptoms, even if you don’t typically get allergies.‌‌

For example, Central Texas is home to many Ashe juniper trees, which release pollen similar to cedar pollen. They release pollen at the same time, so pollen fills the air, making cedar fever very common.‌

‌Cedar trees also have unique pollination patterns. Unlike most trees that pollinate in spring, cedar and Ashe juniper trees pollinate in the winter. They release pollen in the air immediately following a cold front. Weather conditions at that time are perfect for the trees to lose all their pollen at one time.

‌Cedar fever symptoms are often confused with signs of a cold or flu, especially because it occurs during the same time of year. If you have cedar fever, you might notice these symptoms:‌

‌‌Cedar fever shares symptoms with many common illnesses such as the flu. According to health care providers, one of the ways to rule out other illnesses is by looking at your mucus. If your mucus is clear, you could have cedar fever or a viral infection that causes a runny nose. But if the mucus is colored, you likely have some other condition.‌

Some of these symptoms can be worse if you have other health conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or severe diabetes. If you get cedar fever and you also have one of these complicating conditions, contact your health care provider immediately.‌

‌Watch out for these symptoms between November and March. But cedar fever is most likely to affect you from December through February. In addition to Texas, cedar trees are common in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona, New Mexico, and some parts of Mexico and Japan.

A pollen allergy can be diagnosed by your allergy specialist doing some tests. Those include a skin scratch or prick test. That’s where your doctor scratches an allergen into your skin to see how your skin reacts. They might do a blood test instead.

Or they might diagnose you with cedar fever based on when your symptoms start and how long they last. If your symptoms align with cedar pollen season, and you don’t have the flu or another health condition, they may decide you have seasonal allergies such as cedar fever.

‌When you have cedar fever, the mucous membranes that line your nose and sinuses become agitated and inflamed. It’s an allergic reaction that happens very quickly.‌

You can treat your cedar fever just like you would treat any other allergy. Take allergy medicine or antihistamine medication. When faced with an allergy, your body reacts to it by releasing histamine to protect itself. Antihistamines stop or lessen the effects of allergic reactions.‌

‌‌Nasal irrigation is another option to treat your cedar fever. It is the process of draining the mucus out of your nose by pouring saltwater into your nasal passages. You can use a squeeze bottle, bulb syringe, or a neti pot for nasal irrigation. It helps flush out whatever is in your sinuses, including the cedar pollen that’s irritating you.

A bioelectronic sinus device can also help. It works by using microcurrents to stimulate nerve fibers in your sinuses to reduce inflammation, pain, and congestion. It is sold over the counter.

‌If these over-the-counter solutions don’t work for you, visit your health care provider. They will prescribe a stronger solution, such as corticosteroids or anti-inflammatory medications, to cure your cedar fever symptoms.

Cedar fever is not technically a treatable illness, your best option might be to avoid cedar pollen by not being outdoors when the pollen count is high. Local news stations and weather forecasts typically predict when cedar pollen levels are highest in the air.‌

‌You can close all windows and doors and stay indoors to prevent cedar fever. Also, you can update air filters in your car and house to help keep cedar pollen at bay. If you go outside, make sure you wear a face mask. After coming home, wear new clothes and take a shower to remove any pollen you picked up.

You might consider cutting your cedar or Ashe juniper trees down, but this won’t help. Once cedar pollen is airborne, it can float for miles, especially given the weather conditions mentioned earlier.‌

‌Cedar fever can’t be prevented completely. But you can prevent intense symptoms by staying indoors and taking measures to avoid cedar pollen. If you think you have cedar fever and your symptoms are too intense to manage at home, contact your health care provider.

It’s likely you can’t avoid going outside totally. But some daily habits may help you, such as avoiding the outdoors when it’s dry and windy (that’s when cedar pollen is worse). 

Some other helpful habits are:

  • Keep your house and car windows closed.
  • Wash and dry your clothes when you come in from outside.
  • Bathe your pet frequently if they go outside. Pollen can stick to their hair or fur.
  • Clean your home’s outdoor surfaces often.
  • Check pollen levels before you go outside. Weather websites and other apps can help.
  • When you go outside, wear a dust mask, hat, and sunglasses to help keep pollen out of your mouth, nose, and eyes.
  • Change your car and home air conditioning filters often.

How can you tell cedar fever from a cold or flu? 

If your mucus is clear, it may be cedar fever. If your mucus is colored, you may have flu or another medical issue. Contact your doctor to get the right diagnosis and treatment.

When is cedar fever season? 

It’s usually between November and March, with the peak season being from December to February.

How can you prevent cedar fever symptoms? 

Stay indoors when pollen counts are high, try to keep your windows closed, use air filters, and wear a mask when you go outside.

Does cutting down cedar trees help? 

No. That’s because airborne pollen can travel for miles.

When should I contact a health care provider? 

Call your doctor about cedar fever if your symptoms are severe, you have other health conditions that make your symptoms worse, or home treatments don’t work.