The Allergen Lurking in Your House: Mold Allergy Symptoms

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Do your allergies seem to get worse when it rains? If so, you may be suffering from a mold allergy.

Mold allergies are generally not life threatening. However, they can make you uncomfortable in your day-to-day life.

The primary allergen in mold is the mold spore. Because these spores can eventually make their way into the air, they can also make their way into your nose. This triggers an allergic reaction. Mold spores have been linked to allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Mold is a type of fungus that grows in moisture, either indoors or outdoors. While the mold spores constantly floating in the air can trigger reactions, the problem worsens when these spores attach to a wet surface and mold begins to grow.

You may have mold growing inside your house and not know it. This could be due to a number of factors, including:

an unknown leak from the roof or plumbing

a buildup of moisture in a basement

damp areas under a carpet that haven’t been noticed

Because mold grows year-round, mold allergies generally aren’t seasonal like other allergies. People who are allergic to mold typically may have more symptoms from midsummer to early fall, but they can experience symptoms any time they’re exposed to mold spores, especially if they live in an area that tends to get a lot of rain.

Basic symptoms of mold allergies

If you’re allergic to mold, you’ll likely experience histamine-mediated reactions similar to those from other types of airborne allergies. Those symptoms include:

sneezing

coughing

congestion

watery and itchy eyes

postnasal drip

You may initially mistake your mold allergies for a cold or sinus infection, since the symptoms can mimic each other.

If your allergies are compounded by asthma, you may notice your asthma symptoms getting worse when you’re exposed to mold. Symptoms of asthma include:

coughing

difficulty breathing

chest tightness

You also may experience wheezing and other signs of an asthma attack.

Mold allergies in children

If your children are the only ones in the family with histamine-related allergy symptoms, it could just be that your child has a sensitivity to mold, whereas no one else in the family does.

However, they may be exposed to mold outside of the home:

Some school buildings have unchecked mold, which can result in increased attacks while children are at school.

Since some children spend time playing outside in areas where parents might not venture, the source of mold exposure for children may be in the outdoor air. Children with asthma may experience more attacks while playing outside for this reason.

You may notice more symptoms in the summer months when your children are playing outside more often.

Is mold toxic?

You may hear myths about the toxicity of mold. For example, some believe that inhaling mold can cause permanent damage.

If you aren’t sensitive to mold, you may never even experience a reaction. Furthermore, the mold often associated with asthma is generally found outdoors, not indoors.

Outdoor mold only makes symptoms worse for people who already have asthma. It doesn’t cause asthma.

However, a condition called hypersensitivity pneumonitis has been attributed to prolonged inhalation of certain types of mold. The condition is serious, but it’s also rare.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) can develop over time in people who are sensitive to certain types of mold spores in the air. One of the most common types of HP is known as “farmer’s lung.” Farmer’s lung is a serious allergic reaction to the mold that’s found in hay and other types of crop material.

Because farmer’s lung is so often undiagnosed, it can cause permanent damage in the form of scar tissue on the lung. This scar tissue, called fibrosis, can worsen to the point where the person begins to have trouble breathing when doing simple tasks.

Once farmer’s lung progresses to a more chronic form, symptoms may become more severe than simple histamine reactions. People with farmer’s lung may experience:

shortness of breath

fever

chills

dry cough

muscular pain

Those who work around potentially moldy crop materials on a regular basis should watch for early histamine reactions and seek treatment if they suspect that farmer’s lung is developing.

What’s the outlook?

While mold exposure is generally not deadly, increased exposure can make symptoms worse.

Mold allergies can be progressive. Over time, the attacks may become more severe.

The key is to prevent moisture from building up by repairing any leaks. If you notice a water buildup in any part of your home, stop the leak immediately.

You can prevent mold buildup by regularly washing the garbage cans in your kitchen. You can also use a dehumidifier throughout your home.

When working in situations where outdoor mold may be present, wearing a face mask can drastically reduce your exposure to the allergen. Masks that specially protect your respiratory system from mold spore exposure are available.

Treatment: Q&A

Q:

What medications are available to treat mold allergies?

A:

Multiple options are available to treat mold allergies. Some are available over the counter, and others require a prescription from your physician.

Intranasal steroids such as Flonase or Rhinocort Aqua are an option to reduce the allergic inflammation in the nose and sinuses.

Antihistamines are an option for treating the histamine part of the allergic reaction. Older antihistamines like Benadryl tend to cause more drowsiness, dry mouth, and other side effects as compared to newer antihistamines like Claritin or Allegra.

Rinsing the nostrils with a saline solution kit like Sinus Rinse or SinuCleanse is another option.

Additionally, depending on the type and severity of the mold allergy, your doctor may recommend treatment with allergy shots to help your body’s immune system more effectively deal with your allergy to mold.

— Stacy R. Sampson, DO

Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Posted : 2024-08-29 10:50

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