Disclaimer [ENGLISH]
Disclaimer: This material is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, nor does it replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. Reference to a specific commercial product or service does not imply endorsement or recommendation of that product or service by CPCMG.
What is mold?
- Tiny fungi that live in damp, dark, warm environments.
- Their “seeds,” called spores, travel through the air.
- Mold can be found indoors and outdoors.
- There are hundreds of types of molds, but not all of them are responsible for causing symptoms.
What is a mold allergy?
- Everyone breathes in mold spores in the air, but some people can have an allergic reaction or asthma symptoms if exposed to too much of this fungus.
- If you are allergic to mold, your immune system is sensitive to specific mold spores causing your body to have a reaction.
What are the symptoms?
- When the spores get into your child’s nose, they can cause symptoms of allergic rhinitis or “hayfever”. These symptoms can include:
- Itchy nose, mouth, or lips.
- Sneezing.
- Itchy, watery eyes.
- Stuffy or runny nose.
- Mucous in the throat, post-nasal drip.
- Coughing.
- Click here to learn more about allergic rhinitis.
- Asthma symptoms:
- Coughing.
- Wheezing.
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing.
- Chest tightness.
How are mold allergies diagnosed?
- Your child’s healthcare provider will ask you questions about your child’s symptoms and exposures and perform a physical exam.
- Your child might be referred to a physician specializing in allergies who might do additional testing such as skin and/or blood tests.
- There is no special test to look for mold in your body. There are no special remedies or methods to “detox” from mold. Be wary of mold misinformation.
How can I prevent symptoms from mold allergies?
If your child is allergic to mold, the best thing you can do is try to avoid exposure to mold.
- Outdoors
- Stay indoors on days when mold counts are high. Visit pollen.aaaai.org to monitor mold counts near you!
- Take a shower after coming indoors or before bed. This will wash out mold spores in your hair to keep them from bothering you all night long.
- Indoors
- Fixing leaking plumbing and roof leaks.
- Reduce the humidity in your home. Be sure your indoor humidity stays below 60 percent.
- If you use a humidifier, clean the fluid container at least twice a week to prevent mold growth.
- Use an exhaust fan or open a window during baths, showers, while cooking, and while washing dishes. Keep the fan on for 15-20minutes afterwards too.
- Increase air flow in your home. Open doors between rooms, move furniture away from walls, and use fans if needed.
- If mold grows, clean it right away. You can clean mold off walls using a vinegar solution.
- Visit these trusted websites to learn more. Click on an icon:
How is this treated?
- Your child’s healthcare provider might recommend oral medications, nose sprays, or eye drops.
- Some children receive immunotherapy (also known as allergy shots) with their allergy specialist.
When to call your doctor:
- Your child is having fever.
- Your child is having difficulty breathing.
- Your child is getting worse.
- You have other questions or concerns.
This publication was adapted from information from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, and the Allergy/Immunology department at Rady Children’s Hospital of San Diego
Reviewed by: AR, D.O., TT, D.O. | 11/2023