A mold allergy is an allergic reaction to spores of molds. Most often, these molds occur in damp apartments or houses, but they can also be present in old food or textiles (such as curtains). Successful treatment against this form of allergy is only possible if the living space is completely sanitized and freed from mold.
What is a mold allergy?
The prick test is an allergy test to check, for example, allergic reaction to pollen or animal hair. Here, possible allergic substances are dripped onto the skin, which is then lightly pricked with a lancet. After 20 minutes, the redness of the skin and the size of the wheal are assessed. The mold allergy belongs to the sphere of action of the house dust allergy and can be one of its triggers. It is an allergic reaction of humans to the spores of molds, which are present in small quantities in almost every household. However, mold allergy occurs only when there is enough mold in the home and the person’s immune system is sensitized to it.
Causes
A mold allergy requires that the patient be exposed to mold for an extended period of time. The most common types are Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Cladosporium. Damp homes with poor insulation or long-term mold problems are especially dangerous. If the patient is exposed to the mold spores for a prolonged period of time, sensitization of the immune system to the spores may result and typical allergenic symptoms will occur. Runny noses and frequent sneezing as well as reddened mucous membranes are among the most common symptoms; in particularly severe cases, asthmatic attacks even occur, leading to hospitalization. However, mold allergy can also be present from birth and become apparent as soon as serious problems from mold become apparent in a building.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
Many people suffer the symptoms of mold allergy due to undetected mold exposure. Because they can be relatively common and nonspecific symptoms such as watery, burning or itchy or stinging eyes, frequent sneezing, a stuffy nose, chronic runny nose and coughing irritation, these symptoms are often not interpreted correctly. In the long run, this can lead to further complaints such as asthma-like whistling when coughing or blocked sinuses. The onset of symptoms depends on the type of mold to which those affected are reacting. Once sources of mold are found in the home, it is difficult to remove them completely. In the case of allergic reactions to the mold spores, sufferers usually experience seasonal or year-round symptoms – especially during the cold season, when the mold spreads unnoticed. The allergic reaction is caused by airborne mold spores. In addition to symptoms in the respiratory tract and face, mold allergy can also cause mold-related discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract. These are triggered by foods contaminated with mold or fermented foods. People allergic to mold must avoid foods that have been produced with starter cultures and finishers or produced with the help of metabolic products of the mold. Severe cases of mold allergy can result in hives, allergic asthma, migraine attacks, or in extreme cases, anaphylactic shock.
Disease progression
In the case of mold allergy, the first symptoms occur shortly after contact with mold spores and are consistent and can at most worsen as the patient comes into contact with more spores. Symptoms of the disease appear within the first seconds or minutes after contact where it occurred. Because the fungal spores are usually airborne, mold allergy is immediately noticeable by runny nose, sneezing, shortness of breath, or asthmatic attacks. The sequence of these symptoms may increase: at first, only the mildest signs appear, but the longer the contact lasts, the more severe they become. The severity of the symptoms depends, on the one hand, on the amount of spores to which the patient is exposed, but also, on the other hand, on the length of time over which the contamination of the living space with dangerous molds has already extended.Some patients also experience redness of the skin, which may itch or hurt when the skin comes into contact with the mold spores. Mold allergy is not the only condition that can result from mold – over time, symptoms can develop into chronic conditions.
Complications
Mold allergy carries a significant risk for various complications. This is especially true if the allergen exposure is permanent and early therapy is not given. Thus, it is possible that a so-called floor change occurs and the complaints shift from the upper to the lower respiratory tract. The consequence of this is allergic asthma. Especially the respiratory system of the affected persons often suffers from a mold allergy. The disease can cause secondary symptoms such as allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma (type I allergy), chronic inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis) and simultaneous inflammation of the nasal mucosa and paranasal sinus mucosa, which physicians refer to as rhinosinusitis. Also possible is allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), which is caused by molds belonging to the tubular fungus genus Aspergillus. Furthermore, the respiratory tract can be affected by tracheitis allergica. This is an inflammation of the trachea in which severe coughing attacks occur. Consequential illnesses by a mold allergy are possible besides at skin and Unterhaut. These include urticaria, which is accompanied by edematous efflorescences, and allergic eczema, in which the skin undergoes inflammatory changes. Further conceivable complications of a mold allergy are an allergic gastroenteritis, which is noticeable by a bloated belly (meteorism) and diarrhea, as well as an anaphylactic reaction. People who suffer from immunodeficiency such as AIDS or who are taking immunosuppressants are considered to be particularly at risk for mold sequelae.
When should you see a doctor?
People whose home or work areas are affected by mold should have their health checked by a doctor. If mold is severe, it is generally advisable to have one’s health evaluated to ensure that no long-term effects or impairments develop. In case of sneezing, nasal congestion or breathing irregularities, an investigation of the cause of the symptoms is needed. If the complaints increase or continue unabated for several weeks, action is needed. Noises during breathing, headaches or migraines are further signs of health impairment. A visit to the doctor is advisable so that a diagnosis can be made. Redness of the eyes, itching or a general feeling of illness should be examined and treated. In particularly severe cases, an ambulance service is required. If anaphylactic shock occurs, an emergency physician should be alerted and first aid measures applied. In some patients, a sharp increase in symptoms may develop within a short time. This is to be understood as a warning signal of the organism and requires immediate action. Severe swelling, shortness of breath or disturbances of consciousness must be treated by a doctor as soon as possible. Patients suffering from a gradual increase in symptoms should consult a doctor as soon as they experience a decrease in their performance. Sleep disturbances or a general feeling of malaise should also be presented to a physician.
Treatment and therapy
The only proper and reasonable treatment for mold allergy is to keep the patient’s living space free of mold. Before that, however, it must still be diagnosed whether it is actually a mold allergy – this is done by an allergy test, which can be performed at the family doctor. Then the source of the mold must be located in the living space and removed. Occasionally it is damp walls or window gaps, sometimes the allergy is associated with the patient’s lifestyle. Houseplants, for example, are not conducive to mold allergy, as the soil can occasionally become moldy. Kitchen waste should never be left lying around by patients with mold allergy, as this also promotes the occurrence of allergenic symptoms.To counteract the occurrence of the allergy in the future, the treatment and prevention must consist primarily in the proper cleaning of the refrigerator and all other parts of the facility where mold can develop.
Aftercare
Mold allergy is a condition where aftercare and prevention go hand in hand. Follow-up care can be arranged with the allergist, but also with the primary care physician. It is important to consciously avoid confrontation with the allergen. There are different measures for this. In apartments, mold growth can often be prevented by consistent ventilation. This is especially important for damp rooms such as the bathroom, but also for the bedroom with regard to a relaxed and healthy sleep. However, food with mold should also be avoided by allergy sufferers at all costs. It should be noted here that fruit with a high moisture content (for example, grapes) is particularly prone to mold growth and this is not always immediately obvious. Food should therefore be stored in a dry place and washed carefully before consumption. Mold allergy sufferers need fresh air so that the stressed lungs and bronchial tubes can regenerate sustainably. Walks are particularly helpful here. The stay in the high mountains or at the sea in the vacation can support the regeneration in this connection particularly. Aftercare can also include a stay at a spa specifically for the needs of allergy sufferers. Breathing exercises can complement the aftercare. These are learned in physiotherapy and practiced at home in everyday life. Pranayama, the breathing exercises from yoga, also aid recovery.
This is what you can do yourself
The mold allergy offers two starting points at once with regard to self-help in everyday life: on the one hand, in the area of targeted prevention, and on the other hand, in the area of acute disease. Both will be addressed in the following. Prevention consists of giving mold as little opportunity to spread as possible. This includes airing the apartment, which should absolutely be done regularly. This is particularly important if the rooms are very damp. In addition, standing water, for example on tiles in the bathroom or on window sills, should be avoided. Suspicion of mold in the apartment is to be recognized or excluded by the expert as early as possible. In the acute attack it behaves like with many other allergies also. Itchy eyes can be cooled with moist cloths. For runny nose, which often sets in, going out into the fresh air and thus avoiding the allergens is often helpful. This also applies to asthmatic cough, which can develop on the basis of an allergy to molds. In consultation with the attending physician, homeopathic medications can also be used. Globuli or Schüssler salts are suitable here. Sufficient drinking is also important, so that the secretion, which the body forms against the allergy, can flow off quickly. Textiles contaminated with mold should be washed at high temperatures.