Thursday, March 21, 2024

Can Mold Cause Fever In Toddlers

Why Black Mold Is Bad News

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While many types of indoor molds can cause allergies, black mold is especially notorious for its deadly nature.Mycotoxins are emitted from black mold, often creating a burning sensation in the mouth, nasal cavity, and throat. Prolonged exposure can cause mycotoxins to infiltrate the lungs, mucus membranes, and sinuses, leading to a host of severe health complications.

Black mold poses a serious danger to children. A few common black mold symptoms in toddlers include:

A) Neurological Issues

Medical research suggests that mycotoxins can affect a childs brain metabolism and mental health in significant ways. Children exposed to black mold may experience:

  • Confusion and disorientation
  • Diarrhea
  • Hair loss

Since toxic black mold exposure shares multiple symptoms with seasonal allergies, you may not suspect mold right out the gate. However, if the children do not seem to get better, or if the symptoms persist for a long time, you should get in touch with a mold inspection and testing company as soon as possible.

Bear in mind that a childs reaction to indoor mold will depend on their sensitivity, overall health, as well as the amount and type of mold present. However, the longer the toxic fungus lingers in the childs surroundings, the more serious the symptoms will be.

Taking immediate action against mold can help you protect the children at your center from its adverse health effects.

How Do Molds Affect People

Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin. Some people, such as those with allergies to molds or with asthma, may have more intense reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath.

In 2004 the Institute of Medicine found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people with asthma symptoms in people with asthma and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition.

In 2009, the World Health Organization issued additional guidance, the WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould pdf iconexternal icon pdf icon. Other recent studies have suggested a potential link of early mold exposure to development of asthma in some children, particularly among children who may be genetically susceptible to asthma development, and that selected interventions that improve housing conditions can reduce morbidity from asthma and respiratory allergies.

Watery Or Irritated Eyes

When allergens are present, the body releases histamines as part of its immune response. This histamine release is what causes the eyes to water excessively when exposed to toxins from mold.

This reaction from histamine may be the bodys way of flushing out allergens and toxins. It can serve as a warning to you that your environment may contain dangerous black mold.

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The Danger Mold Poses To Children

Of all airborne pollutants, mold is particularly dangerous. It can start growing on water-damaged surfaces in as little as 24-48 hours. Furthermore, mold spores spread quickly and quietly, entering your lungs and causing a wide variety of allergic reactions.

Exposure to mold spores can be harmful to people of all ages. But, children are often more susceptible to its detrimental effects due to their developing immune systems.

Needless to say, you should never compromise when it comes to the indoor air quality of your childcare center or school. Pollutants in the air can directly impact human health and comfort, leading to a host of respiratory illnesses.

While a few black mold symptoms in toddlers are relatively mild, others can pose serious threats to a childs health and well-being.

Lets look at the most common symptoms of mold exposure in children.

Black Mold Children And Pets Long Term Health Considerations Faq

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Over time, black mold exposure can cause serious health problems to adults, children and pets. Children and pets are particularly susceptible to health problems related to mold exposure, so be sure to learn how to prevent mold and what to do if you see mold in your home. Heres some handy information you should know in case your family encounters a mold problem:

1. How does black mold affect children?

Black mold can affect the health of children through inhalation, ingestion or absorption through the skin or eyes of mold spores. According to the Centers for Disease Control , indoor black mold exposure is linked to respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children. In addition, black mold exposure can lead to the development of asthma in some children, especially those who are genetically susceptible to asthma development.

2. What are the symptoms of black mold exposure in children?

Children who are allergic to mold may show symptoms such as sneezing, runny noses, itchy eyes, wheezing and coughing. Black mold exposure can also cause irritant reactions in sensitive children, such as skin irritations, eye irritations or headaches. Those who suffer from asthma can show asthmatic symptoms like wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath.

3. What type of doctor should I see concerning mold exposure?

4. How does black mold affect pets?

5. Where can black mold be found in homes?

6. How do I deal with a mold problem in my home?

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Where Household Mold Grows

The problem with indoor mold is that it can grow just about anywhere, therefore, being impossible to spot. Examples of places in the house affected by mold include but are not limited to the basement, bathroom, walls, carpets, furniture. Is there anything else? As a matter of fact, there is. The microscopic fungus can grow on toys as well. Toys can trap moisture and provide the ideal environment for growth. So, if you have small kids, you need to pay close attention to what they are playing with. Clean the toys as often as possible. It is a good idea to boil them in hot water, just to be on the safe side.

Why Does Exposure To Mold Cause Coughing

Coughing is one of your bodys defense mechanisms. It helps you get stuff out that doesnt belong in your body. This could include dust, food, and especially mold spores. Even a small colony of mold in your home can produce thousands and thousands of mold spores, which are very small, and very light. The average mold spore is 10 to 30 microns in size. To put that into prospective, more than 250,000 mold spores can fit on the head of a pin. The average person can inhale as many as 750,000 mold spores per minute when breathing at a normal rate. Because of their small size, mold spores can easily be dislodged and become airborne. Once airborne they can easily be inhaled.

Inhaling mold spores can irritate the sensitive lining of the throat and nasal passages, causing a cough. Exposure to mold frequently causes other illnesses too, like bronchitis and pneumonia, which also cause coughing.

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Nose And Eye Allergies: Age Of Onset

  • Seasonal pollen allergies usually begin at age 2 to 5 years.
  • The symptoms peak in school age children, teens and young adults.
  • Pollen symptoms are rare in children under age 2. They require at least 2 seasons of exposure to the pollen.
  • Children under age 2 who have chronic nasal symptoms have other causes. Examples are recurrent colds, large adenoids or cow’s milk allergy.
  • Food allergies can start during the first year of life, but not pollen allergies.

Is Your Coughing Due To Mold Exposure

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Of course, a cough can be caused by many things other than exposure to mold, including a cold or other respiratory virus, influenza , seasonal allergies, bronchitis and pneumonia. Some of those illnesses can actually be caused by exposure to mold, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, though of course mold is not the only cause of those conditions. If you think youve been exposed to mold, then it is possible that exposure to the molds spores is what is causing you to cough. The only way to know for sure is to see your doctor for a diagnosis.

Make sure to let your doctor know if youve been exposed to household mold or you suspect that mold may be causing your cough. Your doctor may order tests, such as blood tests, chest x-rays or laboratory tests of any mucus, to help make an accurate diagnosis.

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Could Your Depression Anxiety Brain Fog And Insomnia Be Due To Mold Toxicity

Toxic mold based illness is a very prevalent and under diagnosed condition that can manifest in many different ways, including with symptoms that are exclusively psychiatric, such as depression, anxiety, attentional problems, brain fog and insomnia. Vulnerability to mold toxicity is only present in 25% of the population, who in most cases, have a genetic predisposition which inhibits their clearance of biotoxins. A family can all be living in the same house with mold growth, but only one family member will become ill. This is because that person is the only one with the genetic vulnerability.

Mold growth is initiated through water damage. Due to common building practices of using Drywall or Sheetrock, which was not a construction material used in the past, more people are now being exposed to toxic mold, as Drywall is a great medium for mold growth. In addition, the current practice of making homes more energy efficient, means that there is less ventilation with outside air, and toxic mold gasses can be trapped inside, potentiating their effect.

Mold toxins can accumulate in the body, continuing to wreak havoc long after exposure ceases and require an extended course of treatment. But for everyone, the first and most crucial step in treatment, is to identify where the mold is located and to get away from it.

Some of the common symptoms of toxic mold and CIRS are:

1. Fatigue

36. Metallic Taste

37. Tremors

How Do You Avoid Mold And Clean Sippy Cups Bath Toys Etc

According to Siddiqui and Sardar, here are the best ways to keep mold in sippy cups and toys at bay:

  • Store sippy cups in cool, dry areas.

  • Leave sippy cups unassembled right after drying, which can help any remaining unseen moisture dry.

  • Avoid prolonged use of sippy cups that are difficult to clean, especially in the small areas within the cup. Replace sippy cups frequently, if possible, says Siddiqui.

  • Wash bath toys frequently and leave them to dry in a well-ventilated area.

  • Wash sippy cups right after your child is done with their drink. Leaving food particles in the cup will encourage mold growth and make cleaning more difficult later, says Sardar.

  • Visually inspect sippy cups for mold prior to each use, especially the areas that are more prone to mold growth.

  • For cups that are dishwasher safe, use heat sterilization, which is a good method of killing off existing mold.

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Hiring A Professional Mold Removal Service

There is nothing more important than the health and well-being of your children. As mentioned previously, moving home is not an option. In addition to the fact that it is a costly affair, you risk moving into a home where there is black mold. As surprising as it may seem, people try to sell properties without disclosing this kind of information. You are a responsible parent. And do you know what a responsible parent does? They hire a professional mold remediation service.

What qualified professionals do is focus on the contamination area and the places in the home where mold has managed to grow and, ultimately, fix the problem. Owing to the fact that the fungus is completely removed, you do not have to ever worry about mold. Or indoor air quality, for that matter.

This post comes from the TODAY Parenting Team community, where all members are welcome to post and discuss parenting solutions. Learn more and join us! Because we’re all in this together.

Toddlers With Black Mold Symptoms

Hay fever relievers

The eye cells can come in contact with the mycotoxins which might result in vision problems among toddlers. Other problems are:

  • Soreness and inflammation of the eyes
  • Watery and itchy eyes
  • Vision getting blurred
  • Bloodshot or red eyes

These are only few of the black mold symptoms in toddlers. There are lots of other dangers the mycotoxin can cause to your little one. Some other allergy symptoms are:

  • The black mold symptoms in toddlers include chest pain, joint pain, muscle pain and abdominal pain and much more
  • Your toddler might feel normal discomfort as well as weakness all the time if he or she comes in contact with the black mold fungus
  • A problem of recurring vomiting and nausea is a common problem
  • Your child might also feel fatigued
  • Recurring fever or cold or even symptoms like flu are common
  • Diarrhea
  • Ear infections or loss of hearing capability is a major symptom

A severe damage to the internal organs can occur if the toddler is exposed to the black mold fungus for a longer period of time. Hence it is very much necessary to remove the traces of this deadly fungus from your home. It can cause heart damage, blood clotting, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure. Other than this, the black mold symptoms in toddlers can even include haemorrhaging of internal as well as external organs.

Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Airborne Mold In House

Respiratory And Allergy Symptoms

Many studies have found respiratory distress correlated to mold exposure in kids. When a child inhales the mold spores, it irritates the lining of the lungs and causes a reaction. The reactions typically mimic those seen in seasonal allergies.

  • Shortness Of Breath
  • Itchy/ Runny Nose
  • Sore Throat

A child with a respiratory illness, such as Asthma, mold will exacerbate the condition. Flare-ups of these conditions are also common.

The greatest risk comes with the toxic black mold, Stachybotrys Chartarum. While many species of molds carry great danger, the infamous toxic black mold is the most severe. Particularly in children immune-suppressed systems, toxic black mold can become deadly. Toxic black mold can cause hemorrhagic pneumonia. This pneumonia causes bleeding of the lung tissue. It is always best to have a professional inspection and removal if you believe mold is present.

D Get In Touch With A Mold Inspection Specialist

If youve noticed black mold symptoms in toddlers attending your center or in teachers and caregivers, call a mold inspection and testing expert immediately. They will collect mold spores from affected areas around your childcare center and send them off for identification. A mold inspection will provide you with all the information you need to move ahead with the remediation efforts. You may also want them totest for additional VOCs in your childcare facility and home, to be sure that the environment is safe.

Also Check: How To Clean Mold From Leather

Why Does Mold Adversely Affect Infants And Children

Mold mycotoxins can affect anyone, but they can be worse for people who have weakened or undeveloped immune systems such as infants and children. The average umbilical cords of American-born babies contain 250-300 known carcinogens. In addition, trans-placental exchange of pathogens and toxic metals can suppress the immune system even further.

One of the main reasons that children are so vulnerable to mold and these toxins is because their immune system is developing from birth to adolescence. A childs immune system is not fully developed and any disturbance or foreign substance brought into their bodies like man-made drugs and mold mycotoxins will increase the risk for abnormal immune reactions such as allergy like symptoms, asthma, inflammation and gut issues to name a few of the mold-related symptoms.

What people need to understand is that children who are adversely affected from mold exposure are not really having an allergic reaction, they are having an immune reaction to the mold. This is why a 1990 Mayo Clinic Study Shows Mold as the Cause of Nearly All Chronic Sinus Infections.

One of the lead researchers in that study, Dr. Sherris had said, Fungus allergy was thought to be involved in less than ten percent of cases. Our studies indicate that, in fact, fungus is likely the cause of nearly all of these problems. And it is not an allergic reaction, but an immune reaction.

Causes Of Recurrent Fever In Child

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Recurrent fever can be caused by a number of things, some are very simple illness, but some may be more serious. If it occurs in your child, it needs to be evaluated by a doctor. It is helpful to understand some of the things that cause this to happen.

1. Dental Abscess

An infected tooth can cause a dental abscess to form in the mouth. The infection can cause recurrent fevers when the abscess flares from time to time until the infection invades the bloodstream and becomes constant. This can happen with or without pain and needs dental treatment right away.

Symptoms

  • Bad Breath

2. Periodic Fever Syndrome

This is a genetic syndrome inherited from parents that causes fever in children without the presence of an infection. It is a gene mutation and most children are perfectly well between flares of the disorder. The syndrome affects each child individually depending on the location where they live, ethnic background, and affected areas of the body. Treatment also depends on the above factors.

Symptoms

  • Kidney inflammation

3. Cyclic Neutropenia

This disorder occurs when the white blood cell count drops. The white blood cells fight infection in the body by killing off bacteria. This condition causes recurrent fever in child over a “cycle” pattern. There are periods of wellness and the white blood cell count drops in a pattern over a three-week cycle.

Symptoms

  • Gum disease

4. Borrelia Burgdorferi

Symptoms

  • Rash

5. Crohn’s Disease

Symptoms

  • Malnutrition

6. Eppstein-Barr Virus

Symptoms

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