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Symptoms of Mold Exposure & Who is Most At Risk
Symptoms of Mold Exposure
Mold affects different types of people in many different ways. Every person comes into contact with some type of mold spore daily, however a majority of people don’t suffer severe side affects.
Mold symptoms generally resemble hay fever – rash, fatigue, as well as severe to mild headaches have been reported.
Generally speaking, and according to Vicki Lankarge, there are 5 main symptoms that anyone who comes into contact with mold may experience:
5 Symptoms of Exposure to Mold
- Nasal and Sinus Congestion
- Coughing
- Wheezing or difficulty breathing
- Skin and/or eye irritation
- Upper respiratory infection including sinus
Mycotoxins
If everyone comes into contact with mold spores daily, why does it only affect some people?
In most cases, its not that mold isn’t affecting that individual, its that the mold the individual is taking in, does not carry mycotoxins.
Mycotoxins are what cause these symptoms and what are so poisonous to humans.
Who is Most at Risk for Symptoms of Mold Exposure?
Because mold can harm anyone no matter how healthy they are, this is a harder question to answer.
According to Vicki Lankarge, there are three ‘types’ of people that are more susceptible to mold exposure problems :
- Individuals with a respiratory disorder such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Individuals who have an immune system already weakened by cancer or HIV
- Individuals that are either very old, or very young
Remember, these problems are not limited to these people, because anyone who comes in contact with mold can be harmfully affected.
Do You have Children, specifically Babies?
Young children, especially babies are more susceptible to severe mold problems. Their immune systems are still developing and especially in babies, their lungs are still growing stronger.
According to Lankarge, there have been 45 cases since the incident in Ohio.
16 of these infants have died. When, small infants breathe in the mycotoxins, the blood vessels in their lungs are weakened.
Repeated exposure to these mycotoxins, causes severe pulmonary hemorrhaging, or bleeding in the lungs.
Further Recommended Reading :
- Symptoms of Household Mold Exposure
- What do I do if I Have the Symptoms of Mold Exposure?
- Asthma and Mold in Children
Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team
Source: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know About Mold (And What to Do About It)
by Vicki Lankarge, Pages 28-31.
Like this post? Pass it along!
I work for a mold remediation company and I can tell you that if the guys come back from a job and walk through the office, my eyes immediately start itching, my face stings and I get a sore throat. Seriously. Once when I worked back in the warehouse for a week, my chest felt really heavy and I had a headache that nothing would take away. I can’t even imagine living with mold in my home … and will tell anyone who has it to get it removed as fast as you can.
ann munson on October 13th, 2008Profession:
Office worker
About Me:
Married with 3 children
Best Recommended Resource and Why
http://www.biosignlabs.com
Was very ill for a about a year….had the same symptoms as the flu at first but steadily got worse and started to lose my hair…..had read about mold sickness but my doctor just said I was run down and wouldn’t test for it. I called Biosign Labs, who test for mold allergens and the results showed extensive mold exposure. Armed with the lab results, I took it to my doctor who could then prescribe me the proper course of medication to help my recover.
Janet on November 25th, 2008My husband has had a sore raspy throat for about 6 months now. Doctors told him that it was acid reflux, and he has been on expensive medication all this time. We have a little mold around our window but I try to clean it off often. Who knows what is lurking behind the old walls. He has been to two specialist and an allergist. When we go on vacations it seems to go away. Could it be mold? This house is 60 or 70 years old. The climate here is damp and rainy. PLEASE CAN YOU HELP!
Linda on February 26th, 2009Please let the poster who works for the mold remediation company know that the workers are not following rules if they walk through her office in mold-infected clothes. All HAZMAT suits from jobs should be properly bagged and disposed of, even before they get in their trucks, otherwise they are spreading toxic spores, endangering the poster and taking spores home to their families. Someone is not following rules. If they don’t comply, she should contact OHSA. Her life may be at risk.
AS for who gets sick from mold: anyone. I did not (and still don’t) have asthma, nor was I allergic to mold. In concentrated indoor areas, ANYONE can inhale spores, which can set up home in your lungs and spread throughout the blood system, infecting every organ, including the brain. Been there, almost died from that. Sadly, there are few doctors who know how to treat mold. I would have been better off seeing a vet, as they know about moldy hay and “Farmer’s Lung”. I saw 22 doctors before I finally found someone to help me before it turned into cancer (it was close). Someday I may even be able to work again. And someday, our government will finally fess up to the dangers of mold (think lead paint and asbestos)so those of us downed by it can collect disability while we’re fighting for our lives.
Veronica on March 26th, 2009we have been living in our house now for 9 years… i just recently discovered we have a extreme mould problem growing behind wallpaper where the gib board is sodden and badly needs replacing.. now my question is “my three youngest children seem to be always suffering with vomiting and diaorreah bugs.. would this be the mould affecting there amune systems and making them continuously sick.. i am concerned about this.. please help..
katrina anderson on April 27th, 2009I’m looking for information on curing toxic mold poison to my body when I was expose to alot of toxic mold. I can only eat 6 different foods right now due to the allergic reaction to molds in food now. I know their is other people like me I need help on a cure. thanks
laura on June 11th, 2009I am considering getting the mold blood test done from biosign labs. Anyone else ever had this done? I have been very sick especially last three months. Going in for sinus surgery on 17th of Dec I have a feeling though all my problems are from mold exposure from our house (which we have moved out of recently). Thanks
kathy balman on December 4th, 2009Hello,
Melissa on March 11th, 2010I scheduled a blood test with Biosign Labs and am now secon-guessing my decision. Does anyone know about their credibility? This isn’t a scam is it?
please reply
What about recovery? All over the internet I see instances of mold exposure and health problems. HOW does one recover?
Kendra on April 1st, 2010Melissa,
They are a real company, we had are testing done with them last year..the results were positive as we expected.
We needed those results to prove our lawsuit.
Nancy
Nancy on April 18th, 2011My mom lived with me and my family till she was old enough to move into senior living center in are town. She moved in, in March 2006 by February 2007she went to the Hospital complaining she felt sick. She came out having to use Oxygen for the rest of her life. Could get around at first ok but the longer she has lived there the sicker and sicker she has become. Before she moved into this place she was very active volunteering at are local Hospital, walking there everyday volunteering for 4 or 5 hours and walking back home about 2 miles each way. The senior complex is being remolded my mother had hot water heating pipes removed and behind them was all kinds of black mold. Management is acting like it’s no big deal!!
Cherri on June 15th, 2011We’ve been renting a garden flat for about 4 and a half months. From day 1 I could smell mold in my bedroom. The owner insisted it was the carpets. One day I decided to change the room around, and so I moved the beds out and I saw that 3 of the 4 walls in the room are covered in black mold. This is the same room that my 3 kids sleep in.
Vanessa on July 13th, 2011I am angry with the owner for not informing us about this problem, and I’m not sure what to do. Do we pack up and leave?
My 5 yr old and 2 yr old twins are always getting vomiting bugs. Could black mould in the creases of the splash back of the kitchen bench be causing this? I’m desperate for answers!
Rachael on August 9th, 2011Rachael, have you had your home tested for mold? Do you notice any improvements when you are _not_ at home?
Jonathan on August 9th, 2011My heart goes out to anyone who is living with a mold type illness. My husband and I are in the middle of our own mold nightmare right now. We are being treated by Dr. Richie Shoemaker, author of “Mold Warriors”. He is located in Pokomoke, Maryland if you need his help.
Karen on August 9th, 2011We recently purchased a house built in 1953 that is not wet at all. We run a dehumidifier in the basement all the time. We had a home inspection before purchasing the house, and nothing was said about mold at all. However, upon further inspection by my husband and I, we noticed what looks like pennicillum mold growing on the plaster ceiling in the living room and master bedroom. We have drop ceilings in both rooms and regular plaster ceiling under that, where the mold is growing. There is no obvious water damage or moisture. Is this dangerous? Should I just clean the 2 areas with a bleach solution, or call a professional? HELP!!
neysa on September 11th, 2011