Mold Allergy Facts

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Dana

Mold allergy is cased by the mold spores or fragments which are air-borne. As the spores are small particles, they can easily reach the lungs. Additionally, because of their sizes, spores can be present in virtually any building or home.

Mold can appear anywhere where there is plenty of moisture and oxygen. Inside a home, mold can grow in bathrooms, basements, garages, closets, attics and in any other areas with moisture. Mold can grow in other places as well, including bakeries, old buildings, greenhouses or various industrial factories.

Molds get into our body in various ways, not just through the air. Molds enter our body through such common foods as cheese, dried fruits and mushrooms. These foods generally contain certain molds that can lead to the very same symptoms as their airborne counterparts. But what are these symptoms?

Mold allergy symptoms are quite similar with pollen seasonal allergies, which include asthma, wheezing, stuffy nose and watering of eyes. In medical terms, it is called allergic rhinitis that is commonly associated with hypersensitivity and various seasonal problems. According to some conducted studies, allergic rhinitis shows high similarities to flu-like symptoms. The adverse reaction to mold exposure is not an instant one, as it is often delayed. Mold allergies can be treated just as any other allergy, with the use of allergy medication.

On the other hand, the toxic mold is a rather risky form of allergen. Statchybotys, commonly toxic mold, is a potentially lethal type of allergen, which can seriously affect children. Black mold is one the most common type of toxic mold. If it is undetected, black mold can lead to skin rashes and can affect the lung, ultimately causing death as well.

The foam boards or wall insulation in most southern states, which allowed no air space, made the walls predisposed for floods and water leaks. As a direct consequence, the houses provided the perfect place for the growth of mold spores, leading to the presence of black mold. The common allergy symptoms of black mold include nausea, bloody nose, anemia, wheezing and coughing of blood.

Molds that can lead to various allergy symptoms can be rather simple ones that are commonly found in nature or highly dangerous molds which grow on the surfaces of buildings. These molds can cause various serious health effects and in some cases can be even lethal. In order to properly treat it or even prevent mold allergies, one has to fully understand its causes and effects.

Article provided by Claire, the webmaster of tips for mold removal and mold inspector blog.