Mold allergy is an allergic disease induced by the exposure to mold. Mold is a fungus that develops in damp moist areas of the house. It causes allergic reactions, especially in immune deprived people. It affects the skin and upper respiratory tract. Its symptoms involve running nose, dry scaly skin, itchy eyes, stuffy nose, and many more. Its symptoms are apparent in damp weather and may disappear for some time in rest of the year. It has flare-ups. The best way to get rid of mold allergy is to stop exposure to the molds.
Can Mold Allergy Go Away On Its Own?
Mold allergy does not go away on its own. Mold allergy goes when you get treated properly and your exposure to the mold in the home is stopped completely. Then, the treatment is effective and long lasting only when exposure to mold is ceased.
Mold is a type of fungus that lives in warm, humid, and damp places. They are in the form of spores that float in the air. It can grow in damp and moist areas of the house such as the basement or bathroom even in your garden where a pile of leaves is lying for a few days. They grow in units and cause airborne affections like pollen grains.
Mold causes allergies in the body especially in cases when the affected person has poor immunity. Molds grow in colonies and lead to allergic reactions in the body that involve lungs and sinuses. The common allergic diseases caused by molds are allergic rhinitis, allergic sinusitis, and allergic asthma. These allergic reactions are commonly caused by molds such as Alternaria, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium.
Causes Of Mold Allergy
Mold allergy is caused due to the sensitive or weak immune system as seen commonly in patients of HIV or AIDS. It can happen to anyone whose immunity is down or suppressed. When the immune system of a person is weak or sensitive, it causes the production of antibodies in the body. When the affected person comes in contact with the spores of mold again; there occurs a cascade of allergic reactions in the body. This happens as the body releases a number of chemicals like histamine to combat the mold spores and leads to the development of allergic symptoms like itchy eyes, watery eyes, etc.
Risk Factors For Mold Allergy
The chances to develop mold allergy is triggered by following risk factors-
- The person has a family history of allergies.
- The person is continuously exposed to mold in his work areas such as baking, carpentry, farming, logging, etc.
- The person lives in a damp house.
- The person lives in a house with poor ventilation.
- The person works in a workstation that is exposed to excess moisture all the time such as leaky pipe, water seepage, etc.
Symptoms Of Mold Allergy
The symptoms of mold allergy are similar to any other allergies of the upper respiratory tract. These symptoms are different in different persons. It is more common in damp weather. It also depends on the concentration of mold inside and outside the home. The symptoms appear and disappear in specific weather in a year. Its symptoms involve
- stuffed or running nose
- frequent sneezing
- cough
- itching in the eyes, nose, and throat
- postnasal drip
- watery eyes
- skin is dry and scaly
Complications Of Mold Allergy
Usually, the symptoms of mold allergy are not serious. However, in severe cases, it may cause complications such as
- Allergic fungal sinusitis
- Mold-induced asthma
- Hypersensitive pneumonitis
- Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
Conclusion
Mold allergy is triggered by molds that develop in the damp and moist section of the house. It is characterized by symptoms like troubled breathing, frequent sneezing, stuffed nose or running nose. It does not go on its own. Treatment and avoidance of exposure to the mold can be effective to have the complete cure of the allergy.
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