Mold Allergy
Introduction
Mold allergy is less common than you'd think, given the thousands of types of mold in the environment. Out of all those types, though, only a few dozen cause an allergic reaction.
Because molds, or fungi, grow in all kinds of weather and thrive indoors and outside, mold allergy doesn't always have a defined season like pollen allergy does — although several outdoor molds are most highly concentrated from spring to late fall.
If you have asthma caused by mold allergy, the best defense is to avoid sources of mold spores — airborne seeds you can easily inhale. Completely avoiding a substance as common as mold may be difficult, though. Fortunately, asthma and allergy medications can relieve the symptoms of mold allergy.
Signs and symptoms
People with mold allergy experience the same signs and symptoms that occur in other types of respiratory allergies:
- Sneezing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Cough and postnasal drip
- Itchy eyes, nose and throat
- Watery eyes
- Skin rash
- Sinusitis, an inflammation of the sinuses
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
Causes
When you come in contact with mold spores, your body recognizes them as foreign invaders and develops antibodies to fight them. After the exposure has passed, you still produce antibodies that "remember" this invader, so that any later contact with the mold causes your immune system to react. This reaction triggers the release of substances called histamines, which cause itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing and other allergy symptoms.
A few years ago, headlines were full of scary reports about a substance called toxic black mold, which allegedly caused serious lung disease and rendered countless homes unfit to occupy. "Black mold" is a nonmedical term that usually refers to the greenish-black mold that results from heavy water damage — a type of mold that has not been conclusively linked to severe mold reactions. Scientists are still trying to understand the health effects of exposure to molds, but many experts believe that reactions to them have not been widespread or common enough to be a significant health problem.
Complications
Serious allergic reactions to mold are rare. However, exposure to high levels of mold can cause complications in people whose immune systems aren't operating at optimum levels. If you're healthy, you can handle mold exposure, but if you're on chemotherapy or immune-suppressing drugs, try to avoid damp, musty areas. The same caution is warranted if you have AIDS, an infection, cystic fibrosis or diabetes.
In addition, researchers have found that people with mold allergy are at increased risk of having a life-threatening asthma attack. If you have mold allergy and asthma, be sure you have an emergency plan in place in case of a severe asthma attack.
Treatment
Medical treatment for mold allergy is similar to treatment for other allergies, with the goal of relieving symptoms.
Medications
Several types of medications are available for asthma and allergic rhinitis caused by mold allergy, depending on the type and frequency of symptoms.
For asthma:
- Inhaled corticosteroids. If you have asthma symptoms more than twice a week, your doctor may prescribe a daily inhaled corticosteroid to control the asthma. Examples include fluticasone (Flovent HFA), beclomethasone (Qvar), budesonide (Pulmicort Turbuhaler) and mometasone (Asmanex). Other medications combine inhaled corticosteroids with long-acting inhaled bronchodilators, such as fluticasone/salmeterol (Advair).
- Bronchodilators. These are quick-acting relief medications that stop the symptoms of an asthma attack in progress. The most commonly used short-acting beta-2 agonist for asthma is albuterol (Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA).
For allergic rhinitis:
- Antihistamines. When the immune system "overreacts" to an allergen, it releases substances called histamines, which cause itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing and other symptoms. Antihistamines block this release, providing symptom relief. Common antihistamines are loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec), and fexofenadine (Allegra).
- Decongestants. These medications help clear mucus from the nose and sinuses, providing relief from congestion, swelling and discomfort. Decongestants are sometimes used in combination with antihistamines to control allergy symptoms. Common antihistamine-decongestant combination drugs include desloratadine and pseudoephedrine (Claritin-D), cetirizine and pseudoephedrine (Zyrtec-D), and fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine (Allegra-D).
- Nasal sprays. Corticosteroid nasal sprays reduce mucus production and swelling in the nose and are effective in reversing allergic reactions to mold. Products in this category include fluticasone (Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex), budesonide (Rhinocort Aqua) and flunisolide (Nasarel).
- Cromolyn sodium. In some people, cromolyn sodium in nasal spray form (Nasalcrom) prevents nasal symptoms from starting.
This treatment — a series of allergy shots — virtually eliminates some allergies, such as hay fever. Unfortunately, however, allergy shots are only moderately effective against mold allergy. Current research seeks to improve immunotherapy for mold allergy.
Prevention
The most important thing you can do to prevent mold allergy is to reduce mold growth in your home. Consider these tips:
- Eliminate sources of dampness in basements, such as pipe leaks or groundwater seepage.
- Use a dehumidifier in any area of your home that smells musty or damp. Remember to clean the collection bucket and condensation coils regularly.
- Use an air conditioner, and consider installing central air conditioning with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter attachment. The HEPA filter can trap mold spores from outdoor air before they're circulated inside your home.
- Keep humidity levels well below 50 percent.
- Change furnace and air conditioning filters regularly.
- Be sure all bathrooms are properly ventilated, and run the ventilation fan for 30 minutes following a shower or bath to dry the air.
- Clean bathroom and basement wall surfaces regularly with a bleach solution.
- Promote ground water drainage away from your house by removing leaves and vegetation from around the foundation and cleaning out rain gutters frequently.
- Keep organic plant containers, such as those made of straw, wicker or hemp, clean and dry.
Informations obtained from National Institute of Health.