Symptoms of Household Mold Exposure
What are the Symptoms of Mold Exposure?
When a person feels ills they may not immediately consider the cause to be mold. Mold can and does cause serious health problems in many people.
Exposure to mold has several symptoms including:
- A skin rash:
Although you may think that the skin can only become inflamed by direct contact with the mold this isn’t always the case. You can develop redness in your skin simply from inhaling the fumes from the mold.
- Eye irritation:
Mold can cause both redness and watering of the eyes. During the spring months, many people associate this with seasonal allergies when in actuality the cause is the mold within their home or office.
- Headaches:
Breathing in mold can cause headaches in some people. This is especially true of people who suffer with migraines. They are very sensitive to certain stimulants and mold can be one of them.
- Feeling tired:
Feeling tired for several days in a row, even when you are getting adequate sleep can be a symptom of mold exposure.
- Sore throat:
Experiencing a raw feeling when swallowing, or hoarseness when speaking, are both indicative of mold exposure. Spores can become lodged in the throat and irritate the sensitive membranes.
- Shortness of breath:
Breathing in mold spores can cause respiratory difficulties in some people. This is especially prevalent in those with allergies.
They may even develop asthma or may have asthma and not realize that their asthma attacks are being trigged by the mold in their homes.
- Runny nose or sinuses:
If you are constantly reaching for a tissue to catch your runny nose this can also be a strong symptom of mold exposure. This can be triggered either by an allergy to the mold spores or the membranes of the nose become irritated by the spores.
In either case, you may again misdiagnose yourself as having a head cold or seasonal allergies, but if the runny nose persists, consider that the source may indeed be mold.
- Bleeding nose:
Although this symptom is rare, it does occur. Some people are more sensitive to certain allergens and those offending irritants cause severe reactions.
One of these reactions can be damage to the membranes of the nose resulting in regular bleeding. If this is happening to you, it can be caused by mold within your home.
Do You Suffer From Mold Exposure Symptoms?
If you realize that you suffer from several or all of these symptoms on a regular basis, it’s advisable that you inspect your home for mold. It’s also wise to track how your symptoms occur.
If you leave your home each day to work and notice that you feel better during the day, this can be a clear indicator that something in your home is causing your distress.
The same can be said if you travel and find yourself in better health then. Your home shouldn’t make you sick and finding and treating the mold problem will ensure that doesn’t happen.
Further Recommended Reading :
Joslyn from the Moldblogger Team
I constantly smell musty smell around different areas in my manufactured home. The more snow we get the worse it gets. I have headaches, sinus burn and constant nose bleads. Does it sound like I need to call someone for mold. We have also had 2 problems with flooding in both of our bathrooms. My husband says he cant smell anything, but I smell it all over the house.
Marsha Gray on February 26th, 2007Thank you this info helped me alot. My son has been haveing a runny nose for a month now. Many of my friends kids have had these syptoms when they are in our house. My husband will not listen to me that we have a serious mold problem. It needs to be taken care of right away before it causes serious health problems. Is there any way I can proove to my husband that we have a mold problem so he does something about it?
Krystal on April 19th, 2007Just want to let you know…My boyfreind has been living in this cottage for 11 years..I lived here for 2. He always complains that he’s tired. His eyes are always running. Nose too. I took up the carpet and lo and behold…MOLD. The bathroom must have been leaking around the tub inclosure for years. The wood floor under the old linolium was wet and moldy. As well as the wall in the bathroom.
Gail on September 12th, 2007Now I know why he’s “tired” all the time. needless to say. I have to rip out all the flooring and walls in the living room and the bathroom. and start over. But at least now I know. i CAN’T WAIT TO TELL HIM THAT IT’S NOT IN HIS HEAD!!!
Krystal -
You could always hire a mold remediator to run some tests for you, or get a “do-it-yourself” kit and save some money!
Remember that a mold remediator’s test are more often correct and recognize more types of mold than the home self kits.
Here are 2 informative posts that will help you to decide which is right for you :
Thank you for your question and Have a Great Day!
Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team
Joslyn on November 9th, 2007I think there is mold in the house we are renting. The bathroom and the kitchen are both carpteted and I am having asthma attacks when I am at home. As soon as I leave my house I feel better. My fiance is constantly choked up and even sometimes wheezes too even though he doesn’t have asthma. I see a discoloration around the baseboards in the bathroom and the kitchen but I can’t tell from the pictures on the internet if it is mold. Any advice would be necessary. I am currently doing a mold test that I bought at Lowes.
Amanda on December 31st, 2007Amanda -
Do-It-Yourself mold tests are definitely the first step. Depending on the results, a professional mold team may be the next decision to make.
The symptoms you describe are also a definite sign that there IS a mold problem.
The discoloration around the baseboards does not necessarily mean that that IS mold, however it could be a water leak or moisture problem — which is the main cause of mold growth.
Also, severe mold remediation cases can be extremely expensive. You should definitely report the suspected problem to your land owner as well as present the results to your home mold test and any other tests you may have done.
I wish you the best Amanda, and if you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to ask!
If anyone else has anything to add or suggest, feel free to comment =).
Suggested Reading :
How to Test for Mold in Your Home
3 Tips for Choosing a Mold Remediator
Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team
Joslyn on January 3rd, 2008Thanks so much Joslyn for replying to my comment. Upon further searching we did come across some obvious mold. Also the home test is showing red, whitish, and black spots of what looks like mold. Thanks so much for your advice and comments.
Amanda on January 6th, 2008You are very welcome Amanda! Glad that we could help =)
Let us know if you have any more questions!
Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team
Joslyn on January 6th, 2008I have been having some episodes that I think are possibly related to mold and I was wondering your thoughts on this. When I drive my truck, it seems that when i get in the truck and start on my drive,that my breathing begins to feel constricted somewhat and i begin to have drainage in my throat and in my chest and my chest gets heavy, like someone is stepping in the middle of it.And also I experience these same symptoms when I am on my riding mower , mowing grass.And when I have these episodes my chest will feel weak for 2 or 3 days and I will have the drainage.But after the 2 or 3 day i feel fine .
Jeff on January 15th, 2008Jeff -
The symptoms you are describing definitely seem to point towards a sensitivity towards mold and the allergens it produces.
I would advise you to speak with your doctor about your symptoms and maybe he or she will have a solution as to what to do to minimize the affects while you are in your truck as well as mowing.
Thank you so much and I hope that helps. If anyone else has anything to add, don’t hesitate to post a comment! =)
Have a Wonderful Day,
Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team
Joslyn on January 16th, 2008my family and i moved into a mobile home last march.there seemed to be alot of water leaking under our trailer.my landlord finally fixed the leak bu the trailer is older and i’m sure that there is more water leaking from somewhere.in august my daughters started school.well to tell you the truth they have been out of school sick over 15 days so far and am afriad the school will punish me.My girls and i have athsma symtoms,flu symtoms,headachs everyday and now nausea.we dont have much money.I need help
colleen on March 17th, 2008Colleen,
It definitely sounds like your home has been infested with mold. The symptoms you are experiencing seem to be mold related and the only thing you can do to eliminate the health risks and keep your children in school is to get out of your home. Especially if you have already talked to your landlord and nothing is being done to get rid of the mold problem.
Yours and your girls’ health is the most important factor here. Do you have any family you could move in with for a short period of time while you look for another home?
I would look into all of your options, the number one thing in your mind being you need to get out of the mold infested trailer.
I wish you the best of luck,
Joslyn from the MoldBlogger team
Joslyn on March 17th, 2008Thank you for your response.We are in quite a bind being sick and all.I was fired from my job and have no family.not a clue as to what will happen next.PLEASE PRAY FOR US!!!
colleen on March 17th, 2008Thank you.
Hello, I have been reading up on mold and the sythoms associated etc. I now have been diagnosed as having asthma and allergies. I have been living in this house for 2 years and have tried to remember when this all started. I have a hard time catching a deep breath–some days are okay and others terribly scary. Every morning it takes me 15 minutes to clear my sinuses and it is very unplesant. Here about 1 month ago we had major storms and that is when I noticed water leaking that I can tell is going right down the walls. My mom lives above me and smokes so everyone says that her coughing and mucus is from that but I know her coughs and here lately it has been so much worse and diffrent but yet the Dr. says her lungs are “okay”. I asked my doctor what the sythoms are from mold and she said “everything that you are going thru” and it was like a light bulb went off in her head. We are in the process of trying to move out but have to stay here until that happens. When we do move, do you think these breathing problems are permanent or do you think they will go away?
Nicole on May 2nd, 2008My daughter, son-in-law & grandchildren are living in an apartment complex & their neighbors apartment leaks, gets wet every time it rains & their apartment smells badly of mildew. Their child is constantly sick with runny nose & rashes. My children have been exposed to their child while playing outdoors & just recently have had to take my children to our physician for symptoms including runny noses that have been constant. I have noticed sudden headaches with myself & being tired. My fiancee has been having pain in his feet & muscle aches throughout his body. What can I do to find out if these are all symptoms of mold exposure? How do I investigate my neighbors without being mean? Should I contact the landlord to control this? Could you please give me positive & accurate inpute? Thank you so much.
Tina on June 14th, 2008Nicole’s question was answered personally via email.
Joslyn from the MoldBlogger team
Joslyn on June 24th, 2008Tina,
You’re in a difficult situation as it is your neighbors apartment and they have the right to deal with the problem as they choose. Have you tried approaching the subject with them? They may have no idea it could be mold exposure and then both of your families can approach the landlord.
All of the symptoms you’re describing are symptoms of mold contamination.
The following posts may help as well :
Symptoms of Mold Exposure and Who is at Risk
Symptoms of Household Mold Exposure
Hope this helps!
Joslyn from the MoldBlogger team
Joslyn on June 24th, 2008I am 43, but when I was a child, I was exposed to Black Mold for many years. I had extreme dizziness that would last for weeks. My doctor at the time had literally no clue what was causing the dizziness (of course I do now), he ran hundreds of tests for blood sugar, inner ear, etc.. so I continued to live/sleep in a bedroom that was infested with Black Mold and we didn’t even know it. When we moved out of that house many years later, the dizziness stopped. Here’s my situation though - throughout my adult life, whenever I have had any physically stressful or mentally stressful situation, I believe that I have an outbreak of that old dormant Black Mold allergy. I get dizzy, stuffy head, sinus issues, burning skin in different areas, rashes that last for a couple of weeks. I guess I just wanted to know/see if anyone else may be experiencing the same thing, I have been wondering for years why this is happening and I have been reading a lot about Black Mold exposure and it all makes sense to me now. Thanks!
Kevin on July 14th, 2008I was living in a apartment with a terrible leak under the sink that had a bad odor and shower that had bad pipes and water damage and water that was disclolored per Water Company.
I didn’t know it at the time, and 2 weeks after I moved in I broke out in a terrible black rash allover my body.
I looked like I was in terrible ocean water and fungus.
after 10 surgeries on teeth, sinus, eyes and others I finally had to convience my doctors it was mold.
I was the doctor not them, it took them 3 years to believe me.
Robin on August 8th, 2008Don’t let this happen to you, feel free to e-mail me, I have alot of info on this comdition and taking care of my health and not letting anyone else tell me what I see and feel
I have been living in a rented flat for the past year and in that time have had a few under groud leaks which has caused alot of damp and mould in my flat. My childrens room has mould behind the fitted wardrobes and smells moldy. My bedroom has mould behind the fitted wardrobes and up the wall it seems to be everywhere. My 7 yr old son has asthma and i am worried this may been putting him at risk. Since moving here i have developed bad headaches and am having to take pain killers everyday doctor is unsure what it is. Do you think it is to do with the mold? What should i do?
Becky Carter on August 18th, 2008My son has been very sick with runny nose, chest infections, headaches, puffy black eyes and many more side affects, and we have seen many doctors as to why he has these symptons. He had surgery in October to remove his tonsils and adenoids… Well he is no better and some days I think he is worse. Doctor says he does not have allergys. Now after adding up things and really sitting back and thinking back to when this all seemed to start it seems ever sense we started renting our apartment 3.5yrs ago. I really think our apartment has a mold problem.
Our apartment always seems moist and smelly not too musty but not clean smelling. I find I always have to have windows open or its hard to breath. I would like to talk to my landlords… Who’s responsibilty is it to have the apartment cleaned of mold? Mine or the landlord?
I have some of the symptons as well. Headaches, dizzyness, tight chest etc. But it really has been a struggle for my son having a constant runny nose for almost three years.
I think my best bet is to move…but what if my landlord does nothing and someone else moves in and is not aware of the mold…Please advise or and helpful suggestions would be great!
Kadie on September 19th, 2008