When you have a mold allergy, you know when mold is in the air.
it’s possible for you to experience symptoms from itchy eyes and a stuffy nose to coughing andwheezing.
Still, it can make you pretty miserable.
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While seasonal allergies occur only during a specific time of year, mold grows year-round.
A mold allergy can rear its head almost anytime as long as it’s damp enough.
This article will cover everything it’s crucial that you know about mold allergy symptoms and relief.
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What Does a Mold Allergy Feel Like?
After inhaling mold spores, allergy symptoms flare.
People with this allergy may find themselves feeling the urge to sneeze and having a stuffy or runny nose.
In short, they feel pretty miserable.
What Causes a Mold Allergy?
Whether you’re inside or out, you might beexposed to mold.
Mold can grow anywhere as long as the temperature is right and there is enough moisture around.
You may have mold growing in your home and not be aware that it’s there.
Not everyone is sensitive to mold, but if you are, your immune system gets triggered.
Although the spores are generally harmless, your immune system identifies them as an invader.
The result is an allergic response.
Anything that your immune system responds to like this is known as anallergen.
One way the immune system responds to a threat is to release the compoundhistamine.
This reaction is aimed at eliminating the invader from the body.
In the case of an allergy, the body overreacts to mold spores.
Or, after mold exposure, you experienceallergic asthma.
This reaction to a soil fungus calledAspergillus fumigatusis both an inflammatory and allergic reaction.
It’s not usually necessary to have a child tested for allergies unless they have allergy orasthma symptoms.
Discuss any such symptoms with a healthcare provider.
They may refer you to anallergy specialist.
Screening for mold allergy should be done by a pediatric allergy specialist and will involve skin and blood tests.
These tests will look for mold-specific antibodies that can set off allergy symptoms.
Is Mold Toxic?
One of the fears with mold is that it can be dangerous to your health.
Can it be toxic to your system?
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
Continued exposure to any kind of mold may lead tohypersensitivity pneumonitis.
This can occur from breathing in an allergen such as mold, whether in your home or outdoors.
Another name for this condition is “farmer’s lung.”
It frequently occurs among farmers who are regularly exposed to mold amid the hay in their barns.
Symptoms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis may mirror those ofpneumonia(lung infection).
Unfortunately, this condition doesn’t get better with antibiotics the way bacterial pneumonia would.
Up to 95% of individuals in these professions never develop such a hypersensitivity reaction.
There are some tests that may shed some light.
Your healthcare provider may suggest that you test to see if you have any antibodies to mold.
For a mold allergy, consult an allergy specialist for the appropriate testing and to get a diagnosis.
They can perform skin or blood tests.
Skin tests are quicker and less expensive and tend to be more sensitive than blood tests.
But a radioallergosorbent (RAST) test can determine the level of mold antibodies in your blood.
This, however, can take around two weeks and tends to be expensive.
How Are Mold Allergies Treated?
If you are sensitive to mold, you might proceed in several ways.
The primary recommendation is to avoid mold exposure whenever possible.
Some medicines that may help here include:
Your allergist may also recommendallergy immunotherapy.
You may also be a candidate for what’s known as sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT).
This approach involves putting drops containing a small amount of mold antigen under your tongue.
The idea is to get your body to withstand greater amounts over time.
Whats the Outlook for Mold Allergies?
This can happen any time of year and may occur inside or outside.
Treatments for mold allergies range from medications to ease symptoms to immune therapy to reduce sensitivity to mold.
Still, mold prevention may ultimately be your best bet.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Mold allergy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Health problems related to dampness and mold.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Mold allergy.
NY Allergy & Sinus Centers.Mold allergy.
American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA).
New York State Children’s Environmental Health Centers.Information for parents from environmental pediatricians: mold found in the home.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is mold?
National Center for Healthy Housing.Mold.
American Lung Association.Learn about hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Illinois Department of Public Health.Mold and your health.
Penn Medicine.Mold allergy treatment.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy treatments.
