Symptoms of Mold Allergy
There are several types of molds in this universe, but only a handful of them are known to cause mold allergies and that too in just some people.
Mold allergies can affect people across age groups, but babies and children as well as old people are more prone to them as their immune systems are weaker. People who already suffer from other respiratory allergies or problems such as asthma also face a higher risk of mold allergy. The symptoms of mold allergy differ from person to person.
Indoor and Outdoor Molds
The indoor molds that are common include Pencillium, Cladosporium , Aspergillus, Alternaria, Mucor, Epicoccum, Helminthosporium, Rhizopus, and Aureobasidium.
Outdoor mold are generally found in static water bodies where it remains stagnant for a long period of time. These include Trichoderma, Fusarium,and Stachybotrys. Outdoor molds are generally very poisonous.
Places where Molds Grow
Molds usually grow in places which do not get much air and sunlight and are damp. The Stachybotrys mold, for example grows on wet building materials with high cellulose levels such as wood and paper.
The places where mold grows frequently inside your home are bathrooms, basements, pet litter boxes, refrigerator trays and closets.
Molds may also grow around indoor plants, fresh food, garbage cans, air conditioners, humidifiers, upholstery, foam pillows and mattresses.
Some products are especially conducive for mold growth. These include paper, cardboard, wood, tiles, wallpaper, carpet and insulation materials.
Signs and Symptoms
Mold allergies typically cause respiratory symptoms such as persistent dry cough, sneezing, runny nose, breathing trouble and wheezing. The eye lids may be swollen and the allergy can cause blurred vision, watery eyes and a burning sensation in the eyes. The person may also have a sore throat and itchy feeling in the throat and nose.
Common Causes of Mold Allergies
The allergens in molds are the mold spores that are not visible to the naked eye. These microscopic spores cause an allergic runny nose when inhaled. These spores are easily air borne and hence are present everywhere. And because of their small size they can even penetrate the natural protective mechanisms of the body that are present in the nose and respiratory tract.
Molds and yeasts belong to the fungal family of plants and there are several varieties of molds. While yeasts are single cell plants, molds are made up of multiple cells that branch into threads known as hyphae. Both yeasts and molds can cause allergic reactions in people.
How to Diagnose Mold Allergies
There are mainly two methods to diagnose mold allergies. A professionally qualified doctor would be able to perform the necessary tests for the diagnosis.
The first method of diagnosis is to do a physical examination of the patient. A doctor would be able to identify the symptoms of the allergy and identify mold allergy as the cause of the allergy. The second method is to do a skin test. The diagnosis is usually done as follows: A nurse would perform the necessary tests while the doctor would interpret the results and confirm the diagnosis.
There are different ways in which allergy testing can be done. For testing mold allergies usually a percutaneous test is done where your skin surface would be punctured slightly by a prick or a scratch. A small amount of purified allergen is then made to come in contact with the exposed skin surface. If an allergic reaction occurs then mold allergy can be diagnosed and appropriate treatment can be started.
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