Mold allergy • Recognize and treat symptoms

A mold allergy causes symptoms similar to hay fever. Symptoms such as coughing, runny nose or sneezing attacks can occur both in nature and in the home. More signs and how to treat a mold allergy.

A mold allergy causes symptoms such as a runny nose or a cough.
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House dust allergy: tips on treatment and prevention

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Where can molds be found?

In nature, mold spores are mainly found in leaves, compost heaps, haystacks, in grain or in greenhouses. The mold concentration is highest in the summer and autumn months. One of the reasons for this is that molds feel particularly comfortable in high humidity.

That is why they are particularly found indoors in the bathroom, on walls, next to windows, behind cupboards or baseboards. Often the cause is moisture damage to the outer building layer or increased room humidity with moderate ventilation.

For example, in a three-person household, up to 14 liters of water are released every day. These are composed, for example, of water that enters the room air with every shower or that arises when cooking. In addition, every person evaporates 1 to 1.5 liters per day through the skin and mucous membranes. The humidity can easily rise to 80 percent or more. These are ideal conditions that favor the growth of mold.

Mold Allergy: Vulnerable Groups

There are professional groups who are exposed to increased mold concentrations on a daily basis. As a result, they are more likely to have a mold allergy. Examples of this are jobs in waste disposal, agriculture, feed production, gardening, flour processing or ventilation and air conditioning technology.

Mold allergy and food: is there a link?

In very rare cases, the consumption of food contaminated with mold can cause allergic symptoms. The food is by no means spoiled as a result, but there may be an imperceptible infestation. Foods that can be contaminated with mold spores undetected are:

  • bread
  • Pome fruits like apples
  • Citrus fruits
  • cheese
  • Peanuts, walnuts, almonds, pistachios
  • spices
  • grapes
  • Dairy products

If symptoms such as burning in the mouth, breathing difficulties or other symptoms occur after consuming the food and food allergies can be ruled out, a mold allergy is a possible cause.

Symptoms of a mold allergy

The reactions of a mold allergy are very different due to the different types. In addition, some people only react to the spores, others to the mycelium (fungal threads).

Known symptoms of a mold allergy:

The complaints can occur immediately after contact (immediate reaction) or at different times.

Beware of antibiotics and mold allergy

Some antibiotics such as amoxicillin, ampicillin, and penicillin have been developed biochemically on mold. People with a mold allergy may also develop allergic reactions when taking the medication. A medical consultation is always advisable.

Aspergillosis: mold infection

Aspergillosis is an infection with the Aspergillus mold. It often affects people with a weak immune system. The mold infestation can lead to non-invasive or invasive aspergillosis.

In the non-invasive form, the skin or mucous membranes are affected and allergic asthma or aspergilloma (“fungal ball” that forms and encapsulates body cavities such as the sinuses) are possible consequences. Invasive aspergillosis usually affects the lungs and can spread to other organs from there. It must be treated with antifungal medicines (antifungal drugs).

Diagnosing a mold allergy

A skin and blood test is necessary to clarify a possible mold allergy. In the skin test (prick test), various mold allergens are pricked into the skin. If there is an allergy to the mold, a pustule or wheal appears around the puncture site after a certain time. Keeping a symptom journal can also help diagnose a mold allergy.

Treatment of a mold allergy

Basically, it is important to avoid the triggers of a mold allergy. If the apartment or workplace is infected with mold, you should consider moving, renovating or changing jobs. Avoiding mold is important for health. However, it is difficult to avoid mold in nature.

For these cases, antiallergic drugs are available in the form of tablets, drops or sprays. They usually require a prescription and can relieve symptoms in acute cases.

Desensitization is not possible with all mold allergens. It can be carried out in the case of type 1 mold allergy (immediate reaction). During desensitization, the body slowly gets used to the allergy-causing substance until it no longer classifies it as dangerous. The symptoms become weaker or go away completely.

How do you recognize mold in your home?

Aspergillus, Penicillium and Cladosporium: Behind these names are the most common types of fungus that can grow indoors. They are mostly noticeable through stains in blue, green, black or yellow, especially on walls and furnishings and a musty smell.

However, if the fungus cannot be found anywhere at first glance, despite noticeable physical symptoms, specially trained mold detection dogs can sniff out hidden fungal colonies.

If symptoms such as runny nose, cough or itchy eyes occur again and again at home and a house dust mite allergy is ruled out, you should test for mold.

How do you prevent mold in your home?

So that mold does not develop in the first place, certain rules should be observed. Correct heating and ventilation are essential. The humidity in the rooms should be below 60 percent. Repeated ventilations of five to ten minutes each time have proven to be effective.

More tips against mold:

  • Ventilate the bathroom particularly well after showering; Wipe the water from the floor and walls.
  • If there is no window for ventilation in the bathroom, ventilation systems should work properly. The built-in filters should be washed out every 2 to 3 months and replaced once a year.
  • The bathroom heating should not be switched off in winter, otherwise the bathroom will dry too slowly.
  • An extractor hood should be installed in the kitchen to direct the exhaust air outside
  • Constant “tilting ventilation” should be avoided because this would cause the wall surfaces above and to the side of the window to cool down considerably and the water to condense on them.
  • Ventilate the bedroom as soon as you get up in the morning
  • Do not use paints and wallpaper that hermetically seal the walls
  • Humidifiers in the home should be avoided
  • Frequent emptying of rubbish bins
  • Organic waste should ideally be stored outside the home because it is a popular playground for mushrooms.
  • If you suspect mold infestation in the apartment, you should contact the health department. They can help guide further steps to get rid of the mold.

Avoid mold in nature

In nature, it is very difficult to avoid mold. Nevertheless, affected persons can keep a few tips in mind:

  • Avoid gardening and staying near compost, leaves, or lawn clippings
  • In late summer and autumn, when the weather is damp, you should not spend too long outdoors
  • Walks after rain are to be avoided especially in the forest

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