Itchy, scratchy, bumpy, slithery? Blame it on the rain!

SAN ANTONIO – When it rain, it pours — especially in Texas!

After seeing only a little more than seven inches of rain from May through August, ALL of South Texas needed rain.

Then, beginning on Labor Day, the showers and thunderstorms arrived. So far this month, the airport has received nearly 15 inches of rain, making this the second-wettest September on record in San Antonio.

The record rainfall total for September is 15.78 inches.

Click HERE for KSAT's latest weather forecast

We’re not one to settle for second place, though. With rain chances returning AGAIN this weekend, we have a legitimate shot at making this month the wettest September on record in San Antonio. And there’s still nine more days to go!

While everything from neighborhood lawns to the aquifer are benefiting from the rain, it hasn't come without some annoying — and potentially dangerous — problems.

ITCHY

One of the primary allergens post-rain events is mold. This week, the count  has come in past a whopping 21,000 spores per cubic meter Tuesday — one of the highest recorded counts in recent memory.

"Congestion is high on the list," Dr. John Dice, with South Texas Allergy and Asthma Medical Professionals, told KSAT’s Marilyn Moritz. "Then, you also get sneezing, runny nose, itchy, watery, puffy eyes, and it can even go down into asthma with shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing."

Combating mold:

• Staying inside and keeping piles of damp leaves and grasses cleaned up around the house
• Use the air conditioner as a way to filter pollens; HEPA filters in the AC and vacuum cleaner can also help
• A dehumidifier and using the exhaust fan when you shower keeps deep humidity at bay
• Cleaning damp areas like kitchens, bathrooms and garbage cans with a bleach solution

READ MORE TO SEE THE DAILY UPDATED POLLEN COUNT

SCRATCHY

Mosquitos love breeding in stagnant water leftover from rainstorms.

In a Facebook post this week, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg urged everyone to do their part to get rid of the pesky pests, asking residents to get rid of any standing water you see.

Combating mosquitoes:

• Use mosquito repellent
• Try to avoid going outside when mosquitoes are most prevalent, like early morning or evening
• Wear long sleeves and pants

Crews from Metro Health are already out looking for any potential trouble spots around town.

"They respond to complaints from residents who call into our 311 hotline," Joel Lara, senior sanitarian with Metro Health. "They also check areas such as our public areas, our parks, our public easements, drainage ditches, looking for any mosquito development and treating it accordingly."

Metro Health officials say mosquito season usually ends around mid-October.

If you want to report a mosquito problem, you’re asked to call 311.

READ MORE TO SEE WHERE SAN ANTONIO RANKS ON THE LIST OF WORST U.S. CITIES WITH MOSQUITO PROBLEMS

BUMPY

Potholes are formed by fatigue — or cracking — of the road surface. When rain water seeps into those cracks, it erodes the soil underneath, creating even weaker asphalt and more cracking.

So how can you report a pothole in your neighborhood or on your commute?

City of San Antonio

The city defines a potholes as a “collapsed areas within the roadway that do not exceed 3 feet by 3 feet.” Areas of collapsed pavement that exceed this size are not considered a pothole, but instead are in need of a base and pavement repair.

Residents are encouraged to report potholes to 311 in one of the following four ways:

• Call 311 on your phone
• Download the San Antonio 311 app and report potholes
• Tweet @SanAntonio311 on Twitter
• Visit online at www.sanantonio.gov/311

You can also call 210-207-6000 — the Call Center is available Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

More information from SanAntonio.gov is available HERE

Bexar County

The Public Works Division of the Infrastructure Services Department is responsible for maintenance of all county-maintained streets and roads. This includes streets and roads that are:

• Outside the incorporated limits of any cities or towns in Bexar County
• Not maintained by the State of Texas (Federal and State highways, Farm to Market roads, and Interstate highways)
• Not privately owned (in gated communities or other roads not accepted for maintenance by Bexar County)

Call 210-335-6700 with a specific location and a work order will be generated or take advantage of one of our many ways to submit a request electronically via the YourGOV request/reporting tool

Texas Department of Transportation

Fill out this form to report potholes on TxDOT-managed roads

READ MORE TO SEE WHICH HIGHWAYS AND ROADS TXDOT MANAGES

And if none of those work...

You can just call Domino’s.

SLITHERY

Snakes seek higher ground and shelter after heavy rain, which means they could show up in your house or neighborhood.

Keep storage areas, such as your garage or shed, as clean and tidy as possible. Snakes can fit through tiny openings and easily hide in shadowy areas.

Wood and brush piles should be kept as far away from your residence as possible. Exercise caution everywhere, including the dark areas of your home. Snakes can make their way into the most unlikely of places.

The four common venomous snakes in South Texas are copperheads, cottonmouths, rattlesnakes and coral snakes.

READ MORE TO SEE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE

It’s better to assume a snake is poisonous and have it turn out not to be than to assume the other way around.

Initial symptoms of a poisonous snakebite could include burning sensations around the puncture wounds. Swelling, skin discoloration, blurred vision and drowsiness could also indicate a venomous snakebite. Sometimes, symptoms might not occur until 24 hours after a venomous bite. It’s crucial to identify the snake after you have been bitten.

Wash bite areas with disinfectant if it’s available and remove jewelry before swelling starts. Try to keep the infected area below your heart to slow the spread of venom to your heart.

Call 911 or get the victim to a medical facility as soon as possible.

Do not...

• Make incisions near the bite marks
• Constrict blood flow using a tourniquet
• Use cold compresses or ice near the infected area
• Drink alcohol; it thins the blood
• Use aspirin or equivalent; it increases bleeding

Most poisonous snakes in South Texas, with the exception of the coral snake, will be thick and fat instead of thin.

AND … MUSHROOMS??

Believe it or not, the funky fungi that pop up after it rains could be detrimental to your dog's health, so it’s important to be vigilant when walking your dog due to the increase of mushrooms.

Mushroom poisoning occurs as a result of ingesting toxic mushrooms, which is a common hazard for dogs because of the amount of time they spend outdoors or in wooded areas, according to PetMD.

Symptoms of mushroom poisoning differ depending on the type of mushroom ingested and can vary by each dog.
The following are symptoms of mushroom poisoning in dogs:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Yellowing of the skin
• Uncoordinated movements
• Excessive drooling
• Seizures
• Coma

READ MORE ON WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG EATS A MUSHROOM