7 Health Hazards of Mold
Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Written By Jennifer Larson on October 3, 2021
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The clock is ticking to prevent mold growth.After a hurricane or tropical storm, one of the most serious consequences for homeowners whose houses have flooded is mold. After the water recedes and you take stock of the damage, the clock starts ticking. Mold growth requires moisture. You need to clean up and dry everything that got wet—or tear out and get rid of the materials that can’t be cleaned—to prevent mold growth. Mold growth will occur within 24 to 48 hours, and it can pose a significant health hazard to you and your family. Learn more about some of the health risks that mold can cause.
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1. Hay Fever SymptomsYour throat is scratchy. Your nose itches. You may even be wheezing slightly. You might be tempted to write these symptoms off as hay fever, but they’re actually a reaction to mold exposure. People who are sensitive to mold typically develop these kinds of symptoms, along with some nasal congestion, when they encounter mold.
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2. Skin IrritationYour eyes are weepy and itchy, you’re wheezing a little, and wait, what’s that? Now you’re noticing that other parts of your skin are getting red or itchy and inflamed? Again, this is a fairly common reaction from someone who is sensitive to mold. If you are going to be cleaning out your home or another building that recently flooded, it’s worth wearing protective gloves.
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3. Eye IrritationYour eyes are watery or itchy—or both. Another symptom of hay fever, or another symptom that you’ve been exposed to mold? You don’t even have to be allergic to mold to have tears welling up in your eyes. If your eyes are reacting to the mold, you may want to don a pair of protective goggles when you spend any time in a building that has mold growing in it.
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4. FeverBeyond the hay fever-like symptoms, people who are very sensitive to mold may also develop fever and shortness of breath after being exposed to large amounts of mold.
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5. Asthma ExacerbationsPeople with asthma should be extremely cautious when spending any time in a house or other building that has become infested with mold. If you have asthma and you inhale the mole spores that are in the air, those spores can get down into your lungs and trigger an asthma attack. If you have an allergy to mold, it might be even more severe.
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6. Allergic Bronchopulmonary AspergillosisThe name of this condition is a mouthful to say, but allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a serious illness that can affect people with lung diseases like asthma or cystic fibrosis. In response to mold exposure, this condition tends to show up in the form of severe wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Fortunately, it’s not very common. However, if you or a loved one start developing these symptoms, don’t brush them off.
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7. Hypersensitivity PneumonitisAlso known as allergic alveolitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis occurs when you inhale mold, dust or other allergens, causing your lungs to become inflamed. Some of the symptoms include a dry cough, tightness in your chest, shortness of breath, fever and chills. You might feel like you’re coming down with the flu. It should be noted that it’s not a common disease, and there may be genetic factors that predispose certain people to getting it. But if you develop any of the symptoms, check with your doctor. If not treated, hypersensitivity pneumonitis can cause scarring of the lungs.
7 Health Hazards of Mold