what is a mold allergy?

Doctors speak of a mold allergy if the immune system is overly sensitive to certain types of mold. Mold means those fungi that grow very quickly on organic materials such as food, leaves or wood and building materials and form a visible cotton-wool or flour-like network. As a rule, it is the mold spores that trigger the excessive reaction of the immune system. Such substances that trigger an allergy are called allergens by medical professionals.

The tiny spores are used for the mold to reproduce. They are released into the air in large quantities (similar to pollen), can be easily inhaled and come into contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes. An overreacting immune system then releases histamine, a messenger substance that promotes inflammatory reactions and swelling in order to ward off invading pathogens. Those affected get watery, itchy eyes, coughing, the urge to sneeze and a "runny" nose.

If the mold spores have settled on food, they can enter the digestive tract through food intake and cause allergic reactions such as nausea or vomiting .

In severe cases, a mold allergy can lead to shortness of breath, hives or anaphylactic shock .

Mold spores are permanently present in the outside air. However, there must usually be a high concentration of spores in order for allergic symptoms to develop.

What types of mold are there?

There are more than 100,000 different types of mold in nature. But only a few of them cause allergies. These include:

• Alternaria alternata (it is dark in color, often grows on rotten plants and leaves, but can also form on flour, fruit, vegetables, textiles and wallpaper)
• Cladosporium herbarum (also called black fungus because it is brown-black in color, it is often found in greenhouses or poorly cleaned refrigerators) 
• Pencicilium (also known as brush mold, thrives on apples, citrus fruits, bread, cheese, jams, fruit juices, on garden soil and leaves, rubber seals and window sills. Warning: an allergy to this is different from an allergy to the drug penicillin)
• Aspergillus fumigatus (also called watering can mold, it has a smoke green color and forms on upholstered furniture, mattresses, vegetables, organic waste, compost heaps, potted plants)
• Neurospora sitophila (colloquially known as "red bread mold", as it is often found in bakeries, grows on cereals, flour and moist bread, among other things) 

Where do molds occur?

Like all mushrooms, molds need moisture to thrive. The best for them is a warm and humid climate , a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 80 percent. If moisture is present, they can settle and grow on a wide variety of materials, for example behind wallpaper, tiles, wooden paneling and mirrors, on the back of shelves, cupboards and pictures, under the floor, on window sills and rubber seals, in upholstered furniture, carpets, mattresses, on leather, textiles, cardboard and wood, in refrigerators, air conditioning systems, humidifiers, indoor fountains, on potting soil and in hydroponics. Mold often develops on room walls when there is moisture in the walls the corner of the room or the area around the window is often affected.

Too little ventilation, the formation of condensation (for example on the window panes) and placing furniture too close to external walls also promote the formation of mold ( see also section “ Mold allergy: tips ” ).

However, mold growth is not always visible in the form of dark mold stains; it often thrives in "hidden" places, for example on the bathroom floor, in the wall behind the sink or near a rain pipe. Construction defects such as improperly installed insulation or a leaky water pipe are often responsible for this. Health problems and a musty smell in the room are usually the first indications that there is a hidden mold infestation.

Outside, higher amounts of mold occur in the garden, in greenhouses, in forests and meadows, mostly they cavort on fallen leaves, piles of leaves, piles of wood, in grain, on compost heaps and in the organic waste bin.

Food is another possible breeding ground; moist products such as bread, cheese, vegetables, fruits, yogurt and jam are particularly susceptible to mold. When food becomes moldy (in the early stages, this is often invisible to the naked eye), the fine spores can enter the gastrointestinal tract.

Are molds more prevalent in some times of the year?

All types of mold are found outside in the area all year round. They multiply particularly strongly when there is high humidity or a change in weather. The air outside is most heavily polluted with mold spores in summer and autumn , up to 3,000 mold spores can be detected per cubic meter of air in summer and 50 in winter. The Alternaria mold, for example, has the highest spore formation in July and August.

Attention: The mold spores, unlike pollen, fly through the air even after a rain shower and thunderstorm.

The allergic symptoms can occur seasonally or all year round for those affected.

Mold allergy: symptoms

The symptoms of a mold allergy are similar to those of a house dust mite allergy or hay fever :

• Red, itchy, watery, or burning eyes
• Sneezing and runny nose (runny nose)
• Stuffy nose
• to cough

In addition, unspecific complaints such as headaches , tiredness and general malaise can occur.

If the mold is found on food, consumption can cause swelling in the mouth and gastrointestinal complaints, i.e. symptoms such as abdominal pain , nausea, vomiting or diarrhea .

Anyone who touches their nose or eyes after touching the moldy food can also get sneezing, a runny nose, red, itchy or watery eyes.

The following symptoms may occur in the event of a severe allergic reaction:

• Acute shortness of breath
• Allergic asthma
• Itching, rash (eczema, nettle rash )
• An anaphylactic shock , which can cause breathing to stop, drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness.

Mold allergy: test

Anyone who suffers from the typical symptoms of a mold allergy and wants to visit a doctor's office, asks themselves the question: Which doctor is the right person to contact? The first point of contacts is the family doctor, who can then refer the patient to a specialist, such as an ENT doctor. Make sure that this has the additional designation "Allergology".

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In order to make the diagnosis of a mold allergy , the doctor will first conduct a detailed examination talk about the exact symptoms the patient has and possible allergy triggers. He will ask the following questions, among others:

• Does the person concerned work in an occupation in which they are in an environment with an increased risk of mold, for example in archives, in agriculture or in waste processing?
• Was there or is there mold at home?
• Do the physical complaints occur when the patient is in a damp room such as a basement or in the garden?
• Are the symptoms more pronounced in certain times of the year or when the weather changes?
• Do the symptoms disappear when the patient is no longer in the humid environment?
• Are there allergies in the patient's family?

This is followed by a physical exam, particularly of the mucous membranes of the eyes, upper respiratory tract, and the person's skin.

It can be helpful for the patient to keep a symptom diary for a few weeks and record exactly when and which symptoms occur.

If, after the examination, the doctor has the suspicion that it is a mold allergy, he will carry out an allergy test. There are different methods of doing this:

·        Skin test (so-called prick test ): The doctor applies some allergen extracts (e.g. from grass, animal hair, house dust mites and mold) to the patient's forearm and then pricks (“pricks”) them into the top layer of skin with a fine needle. After 15 to 20 minutes, a check is carried out to determine whether an allergic reaction (reddening of the skin, swelling, itchy wheals) has occurred.

·        Blood test : Here blood is taken from the patient and checked in the laboratory to see whether certain antibodies are present - in particular immunoglobulin E (IgE), as these are often formed in allergies.

·        Provocation test : For example, the patient inhales a small amount of a substance that is suspected to be allergenic. This procedure provokes an allergic reaction, so to speak. If the person concerned develops symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose or watery, reddened eyes, this usually clearly indicates an allergy.

 

Mold allergy: treatment

The most important measure is to avoids contact with the allergy trigger (doctors refer to this as parental leave). This is not easy, because mold spores can be found almost everywhere. Still, everyone can take some effective measures:

• Can you see mold on the walls at home? Then a professional remediation and drying measure may be necessary to completely remove it.
• If furniture, carpets or textiles are affected, the only thing left to do is to throw them away.
• In addition, those affected should refrain from gardening and avoid piles of leaves and compost.

It is also very importants to remove the growth conditions from the mold, i.e. avoid high humidity indoors. You can do this if you ventilate regularly and heat sufficiently. In addition, potential breeding grounds such as food waste must be disposed of on a daily basis ( see also section “ Mold allergy: tips ” ).

Physical complaints caused by a mold allergy can be alleviated with medication such as antihistamines , corticoids (e.g. nasal sprays containing glucocorticoids) and eye drops.

Hypersensitization to treat a mold allergy 

The only therapy that influences the immune system and thus treats the cause of the mold allergy is hypersensitization. In this method, the doctor injects increasing doses of a mold solution under the patient's skin at regular intervals. In this way, the immune system should gradually get used to the mold and develop a tolerance for the allergy-causing substance. @ READ MORE What are the Health Benefits of Liquid chlorophyll?