Tag Archives: Respiratory Problems

The Cleveland Clinic: How to Treat Mold Exposure

The Cleveland Clinic: How to Treat Mold Exposure

The Cleveland Clinic: How to Treat Mold Exposure

Exposure to mold can cause a serious allergic reaction called aspergillosis. The Cleveland Clinic, one of our country’s largest and most respected medical centers, offers more information about this illness along with helpful tips for treatment and prevention.

Who Is Affected by Aspergillosis?

Aspergillosis gets its name from Aspergillus fumigatus, a type of mold that is the primary cause of the illness. Aspergillus is one of the most common forms of outdoor mold, but it can easily be tracked indoors on shoes and clothing.

Healthy people are generally at low risk for aspergillosis, which primarily affects those with compromised immune systems or pre-existing lung conditions. Problems arise when mold spores are inhaled and settle in lung cavities or mucus-filled airways.

Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

Symptoms of aspergillosis include:

• Wheezing and coughing, sometimes accompanied by blood or increased mucus

• Fever and/or chills

• Shortness of breath

• Chest pain

These upper-respiratory symptoms are similar to those of general allergic reactions, so it’s important to visit your doctor and rule out other causes.

Aspergillosis is most often treated with oral corticosteroids and anti-fungal drugs, either separately or in combination. Surgery is sometimes necessary when fungus balls called aspergillomas are present in the lungs or other organs.

Since Aspergillus is so common, the best course of prevention is to avoid locations such as construction sites that are likely to have a lot of dust and mold. People at high risk might consider wearing a face mask.

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Can Mold Exposure Cause Asthma?

Lungs And Mold

Lungs And Mold

One of the reasons effective mold treatment is so important is the negative health effects for the home or building’s occupants. The microscopic spores drift through the atmosphere where they can be inhaled with each breath. The greater the concentration, the stronger the effect.

Upper respiratory problems are a common result of interior mold growth. The spores irritate the linings of the throat and nasal passages causing symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and itchy, watery eyes. Intensity varies based on an individual’s particular sensitivity, which can become more acute with extensive exposure.

People with chronic lung illnesses such as asthma are at higher risk for mold allergies. Exposure can trigger an attack accompanied by coughing and wheezing. But can mold exposure actually cause an individual to develop asthma?

There is currently no evidence showing a direct link between mold and asthma in adults. However, a government-funded study has shown a correlation between mold exposure and the development of asthma in children. Out of 289 infants with an average age of eight months, 24 percent developed asthma by the age of seven.

The study focused on the homes’ Environmental Relative Moldiness Index, or ERMI. Researchers discovered that high ERMI values put the children at risk even when there was no visual evidence of mold.

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