People vary in their reaction to mold. Some are overly sensitive to particular kinds of mold, others to simply the presence of low levels of spores. But even if you've not previously been allergic, repeated exposure to a high spore count can cause you to develop sensitivity to mold. A person suffering from a mold allergy will present one or more of the following symptoms:
- Wheezing
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Nasal and sinus congestion
- Burning, watery, or reddened eyes
- Dry, hacking cough
- Nose or throat irritation
- Skin Rashes or irritation
Other occasional problems include headaches, memory problems, mood swings, nosebleeds, body aches, and pains and fevers.
Some age groups are especially susceptible to mold. For example, according to a recent study, children under one year of age showed a direct relationship between the amount of exposure to indoor mold and the frequency of lower-respiratory illnesses. And children testing in the 90th percentile for one or more molds had an 86 percent increased risk of developing lower respiratory illness such as pneumonia, croup, and bronchitis.
Exposure to indoor mold has also been shown to exacerbate asthma symptoms in sensitive individuals.
Black Mold
So far, we've been talking about common household mold. However, over the last few years, the media has talked a lot about toxic, hidden or black-mold. The warning signs for this hidden mold may include a musty smell when you cannot see any mold growing, especially when there has been extensive water damage that was not promptly fixed. If toxic mold is suspected, a trained professional should be consulted as even investigating can require caution if the mold spores are disturbed.
Learn more about toxic mold at www.cdc.gov.
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