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Mold Allergy
From:
"What is Mold Allergy", Asthma and Allergy Foundation of
America
http://www.aafa.org - Asthma and Allergy Foundation of
America (AAFA)
Mold and mildew are fungi. Some spores are
released in dry, windy weather. Inhaling the spores causes allergic
reactions in some people. Allergic symptoms from fungus spores are most
common from July to late summer. Alternaria, Cladosporium (Hormodendrum),
Aspergillus, Penicillium, Helmin thosporium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Mucor,
Rhizopus and Aureobasidium (Pullularia) are the major culprits. Many molds
grow on rotting logs and fallen leaves, in compost piles and on grasses
and grains. Unlike pollens, molds do not die with the first killing frost.
Indoors, fungi grow in damp areas, particularly in the bathroom, kitchen
or basement.
The following informations
are from the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases:
Website:
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/allergens/mold.htm
Description
When inhaled, microscopic fungal spores or, sometimes, fragments of
fungi may cause allergic rhinitis. Because they are so small, mold spores
may evade the protective mechanisms of the nose and upper respiratory
tract to reach the lungs.
Mold Allergy Allergen
Like pollens, mold spores are important airborne allergens only if they are
abundant, easily carried by air currents, and allergenic in their chemical
makeup. Found almost everywhere, mold spores in some areas are so numerous they
often outnumber the pollens in the air. Fortunately, however, only a few dozen
different types are significant allergens.
In general, Alternaria and Cladosporium (Hormodendrum) are the
molds most commonly found both indoors and outdoors throughout the United
States.
Aspergillus, Penicillium, Helminthosporium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Mucor, Rhizopus,
and Aureobasidium (Pullularia) are also common.
Other Mold Related Disorders
Fungi or microorganisms related to them may cause other health problems
similar to allergic diseases. Some kinds of Aspergillus may cause several
different illnesses, including both infections and allergy. These fungi may
lodge in the airways or a distant part of the lung and grow until they form a
compact sphere known as a "fungus ball." In people with lung damage or serious
underlying illnesses, Aspergillus may grasp the opportunity to invade the
lungs or the whole body.
In some individuals, exposure to these fungi also can lead to asthma or to a
lung disease resembling severe inflammatory asthma called allergic
bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. This latter condition, which occurs only in a
minority of people with asthma, is characterized by wheezing, low-grade fever,
and coughing up of brown-flecked masses or mucus plugs. Skin testing, blood
tests, X-rays, and examination of the sputum for fungi can help establish the
diagnosis. Corticosteroid drugs are usually effective in treating this reaction;
immunotherapy (allergy shots) is not helpful.
Outdoor Allergens: Pollen and Mold
Hay fever: sneezing, coughing, and wheezing. Your eyes
water, your nose stuffs up, and your throat itches. Hay
fever is a reaction to airborne pollen: tiny particles
plants use to reproduce. Pollen easily floats on winds and
breezes to reach other plants, and plants produce it in
abundance, as any hay fever sufferer can tell you.
Pollens are some of the most commons airborne allergens.
Allergic responses can be treated in a number of different
ways. Details about your options are available through the
Allergy Treatment Tool.
Seasonal Allergies: Trees, Grasses and Weeds
Pollen triggers seasonal allergies because plants
pollinate at specific times of the year. Trees tend to
pollinate before grasses or weeds. If you have an allergy
to oak trees, for example, you'll notice symptoms sooner
than someone with a ragweed allergy.
Trees pollinate in the spring, while grasses and weeds
begin pollination in the late spring and continue through
the summer. Of course, "spring" is a relative term,
depending on where you live. While people in northern
climates might not worry about seasonal allergies until
May, further south pollination may begin as early into the
year as January.
North America has a number of allergy-causing plants. The
most common culprits are listed below.
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Trees
ash
box elder
elm
hickory
pecan
mountain cedar
oak trees |
Grasses
Bermuda grass
Johnson grass
Kentucky bluegrass
orchard grass
redtop grass
sweet vernal grass
timothy hay |
Mold Spores and the Seasons
Mold spores can also cause hay fever. Mold grows in
wet soil, in rotting leaves, and almost any place that’s
warm and humid. In northern climates, mold spores begin to
grow after the snow thaws, and can be found in the air
until late fall. In warmer areas, mold spores can be in
the air year round.
Tips for Hay Fever Sufferers
Unlike many other allergies caused be airborne
substances, avoiding seasonal allergies is difficult.
Plants produce enormous amounts of pollen, and it spreads
quickly over large areas. However, if you suffer from
ragweed allergies, or any of the other common pollen
allergies, you can take some steps to minimize your
contact with allergens.
Learn to watch the weather: the pollen count is likely to
be higher on clear, dry, warm days than it is on rainy,
cloudy and calm days. On days when the count is high,
limit your time outdoors. Keep your windows closed, both
at home and in the car. If you've been outdoors, shower
when you get in, and change clothes immediately. Clothing
can trap allergens.
Gardening requires some forethought. You should have
someone else do the raking and mowing, two activities that
can stir up both pollen and mold spores. If you have to
garden yourself, wear a protective mask to avoid inhaling
allergens.
Using Air Quality Indicators
Pollen reports tell you the amount of various
allergens in the air. You can access them online to find
airborne allergen levels for many geographic areas. The
counts are organized in categories such as trees, grasses,
weeds and molds, so if you suffer from a very specific
allergy, you can look up acceptable levels that apply to
you.
You have to be aware of your own reactions to allergens to
read air quality reports accurately. For instance, if you
are highly sensitive, a "moderate" warning might indicate
that you need to take precautions, while another allergy
sufferer might not worry about reactions until the pollen
count was listed as "high."
Source of Information
What
is mold allergy?
When
inhaled, microscopic fungal spores or, sometimes, fragments of fungi may
cause allergic rhinitis. Because they are so small, mold spores may evade
the protective mechanisms of the nose and upper respiratory tract to reach
the lungs. In a small number of people, symptoms of mold allergy may be
brought on or worsened by eating certain foods, such as cheeses, processed
with fungi. Occasionally, mushrooms, dried fruits and foods containing
yeast, soy sauce, or vinegar will produce allergic symptoms. There is no
known relationship, however, between a respiratory allergy to the mold
Penicillium and an allergy to the drug penicillin, made from the mold.
Which
molds are allergenic?
Found
almost everywhere, mold spores in some areas are so numerous they often
outnumber the pollens in the air. Fortunately, however, only a few dozen
different types are significant allergens.
In general, Alternaria
and Cladosporium (Hormodendrum)
are the molds most commonly found both indoors and outdoors throughout the
United States. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Helminthosporium, Epicoccum,
Fusarium, Mucor, Rhizopus and Aureobasidium (Pullularia) are
also common.
What is mold allergy?
A.
Mold and mildew are fungi. They differ from plants or
animals in how they reproduce and grow. The "seeds,"
called spores, are spread by the wind outdoors and by air
indoors. Some spores are released in dry, windy weather.
Others are released with the fog or dew when humidity is
high.
Inhaling the spores causes allergic reactions in some
people. Allergic symptoms from fungus spores are most
common from July to late summer. But with fungi growing in
so many places, allergic reactions can occur year round.
Although there are many types of molds, only a few dozen
cause allergic reactions. Alternaria, Cladosporium (Hormodendrum),
Aspergillus, Penicillium, Helmin thosporium, Epicoccum,
Fusarium, Mucor, Rhizopus and Aureobasidium (Pullularia)
are the major culprits. Some common spores can be
identified when viewed under a microscope. Some form
recognizable growth or colonies.
Many molds grow on rotting logs and fallen leaves, in
compost piles and on grasses and grains. Unlike pollens,
molds do not die with the first killing frost. Most
outdoor molds become dormant during the winter. In the
spring they grow on plants killed by the cold.
Indoors, fungi grow in damp areas, particularly in the
bathroom, kitchen or basement.
Q.
Who gets the allergy?
A.
It is common for people to get mold allergy if they or
other family members are allergic to substances such as
pollen or animal dander. People may become allergic to
only mold or fungi, or they may also have problems with
dust mites, pollens and other spores. If you are allergic
to only fungi, it is unlikely that you would be bothered
by all fungi. The different types of fungi spores have
only limited similarities.
People in some occupations have more exposure to mold and
are at greater risk of developing allergies. Farmers,
dairymen, loggers, bakers, mill workers, carpenters,
greenhouse employees, winemakers and furniture repairers
are at increased risk. There is only weak evidence that
allergic symptoms are caused by food fungi (e.g.,
mushrooms, dried fruit, foods containing yeast, vinegar or
soy sauce). It is more likely that reactions to food fungi
are caused by the food's direct effect on blood vessels.
For example, histamine may be present because of the
fermentation of red wines.
Fungi on houseplants can cause an allergic reaction, but
this is only likely to happen if the soil is disturbed.
Fungi can even grow in the human body. If not properly
treated, intense inflammation can recur often. It can
permanently damage airway walls. This is not common,
though.
Q.
What are the symptoms?
A.
The symptoms of mold allergy are very similar to the
symptoms of other allergies, such as sneezing, itching,
nasal discharge, congestion and dry, scaling skin. Some
people with mold allergies may have allergy symptoms the
entire summer because of outdoor molds or year-round if
symptoms are due to indoor molds.
Mold spores can deposit on the lining of the nose and
cause hay fever symptoms. They also can reach the lungs,
to cause asthma or another serious illness called allergic
bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
Sometimes the reaction is immediate, and sometimes the
reaction is delayed. Symptoms often worsen in a damp or
moldy room such as a basement; this may suggest mold
allergy.
Q.
How is mold allergy diagnosed?
A.
To diagnose an allergy to mold or fungi, the doctor will
take a complete medical history. If mold allergy is
suspected, the doctor often will do skin tests. Extracts
of different types of fungi will be used to scratch or
prick the skin. If there is no reaction, allergy is not
suggested. In some people with allergy, irritation alone
can cause a reaction. Therefore the doctor uses the
patient's medical history, the skin testing results, and
the physical examination combined to diagnose mold
allergy.
Q.
How is mold allergy treated?
A.
As with most allergies, patients should
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Avoid contact with the spores. Wear a dust mask
when cutting grass, digging around plants, picking up
leaves and disturbing other plant materials. Reduce the
humidity indoors to prevent fungi from growing. These
measures will reduce symptoms.
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Take medications for nasal or other allergic
symptoms. Antihistamines and decongestants are
available over the counter—without a prescription.
Because these antihistamines can cause drowsiness, they
are best taken at bedtime. If drowsiness continues to be
a problem, talk to your doctor about taking non-sedating
antihistamines, which require a prescription. For
moderate and severe allergy symptoms, your doctor may
prescribe corticosteroid nasal sprays.
-
If these medications are inadequate, talk to your
doctor or allergist about taking allergy shots
(immunotherapy). This works for some carefully selected
patients.
Q.
How can I prevent a reaction to mold?
A.
Allergies cannot be cured. But the symptoms of the allergy
can be reduced by avoiding contact with the spores.
Several measures will help:
The amount of airborne spores are likely to change
quickly, depending on the weather. The counts reported are
always for a past time period and may not reflect what is
currently in the air. The mold that causes your allergic
reaction may not be counted separately. This means that
allergy symptoms may not relate closely to the published
count. But knowing the count can help you decide when to
stay indoors.
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Use central air conditioning with a HEPA (high
efficiency particulate air) filter attachment. It
will help trap spores before they reach you. Air
conditioning with a HEPA filter attached works better
than electrostatic air-cleaning devices and much better
than freestanding air cleaners. Devices that treat air
with heat, ions or ozone are not recommended.
No air cleaners will help if excess moisture remains. If
indoor humidity is above 50 percent, risks of fungus
growth rise steeply. Hygrometers can be used to measure
humidity accurately. The goal is to keep humidity below 45
percent, and preferably about 35 percent.
If humidifiers are necessary, scrub the fluid reservoirs
at least twice a week to prevent mold growth. Air
conditioners and dehumidifiers can also be a source of
mold and should be cleaned.
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To prevent mold and mildew build up inside the home,
especially in bathrooms, basements and laundry areas, be
aggressive about reducing dampness:
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Put an exhaust fan or open a window in the bathroom.
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Quickly repair any plumbing leaks.
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Remove bathroom carpeting where moisture is a
concern.
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Scour sinks and tubs at least monthly. Fungi
thrive on soap and other films that coat tiles and
grout. For problem areas, use ordinary laundry bleach (1
ounce diluted in a quart of water). Fungicides
(chemicals that kill fungus) are less important than a
good scrubbing. Fungicides may be added to paint, primer
or wallpaper paste to slow fungus growth on treated
areas. But this will have little effect if excess
moisture remains.
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Clean garbage pails frequently.
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Clean refrigerator door gaskets and drip pans.
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Repair basement plumbing leaks, blocked drains,
poorly vented clothes dryers and water seepage through
walls.
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Use an electric dehumidifier to remove moisture
from the basement. Be sure to drain the dehumidifier
regularly and clean the condensation coils and
collection bucket.
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Raise the temperature in the basement to help
lower humidity levels. Small space heaters or a
low-wattage light bulb may be useful in damp closets. Be
careful where they are placed, though, to avoid creating
a fire hazard.
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Polyurethane and rubber foams seem especially prone
to fungus invasion. If bedding is made with these
foams, it should be covered in plastic.
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Throw away or recycle old books, newspapers, clothing
or bedding.
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Promote groundwater drainage away from a house.
Remove leaves and dead vegetation near the foundation
and in the rain gutters. Completely shaded homes dry out
slowly, and dense bushes and other plants around the
foundation often promote dampness. In the winter,
condensation on cold walls encourages mold growth, but
even thick insulation can be invaded if vapor barriers
in exterior walls are not effective.
Source
Since one of the most common cores of allergy, asthma and
sinusitis is fungal infections,
as well as polyps, reflux disease and bacteria, you
have to make sure that your home and real estate is free from
molds and mildew, which later may develop into molds, and prevent
any of their future growth.
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To eliminate molds and mildew from your home, office
or other real estate and property, follow the suggestions of the book Do It Yourself
Mold Prevention, Mold Inspection, Testing, & Remediation.
For details, please visit: Mold
Book.
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To
visit the best internet mold website, please visit:
Mold Inspector.
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To find a
Certified Mold Inspector, Certified Mold Remediator or
Certified
Mold Contractor
in your area, please visit:
Certified Mold Inspector.
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To find services of a mold lawyer or a
mold attorney,
please visit
Mold Lawyer.
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