Mold And Babies: Harmful Effects Of Molds To Children
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Your children will always be your top priority. And thats why youd go to great lengths to make sure your home is the safest place for them to live.
But what if your home becomes a breeding ground for dangerous molds?
What do you do?
Knowing the terrible effects that mold exposure can have on your kids is essential. Mold can develop in hidden areas. They can grow inside air ducts, drywall, on wood, carpets, paper, or anywhere thats continuously exposed to moisture like under the kitchen or bathroom sinks.
You may not be able to see them until its too late.
But if you see these symptoms manifest in your children, you could at least consider mold as the culprit. That way, you can call in the experts to locate and deal with the problem.
So, lets talk about the harmful effects that molds have on children.
Effects of Mold on Childrens Health
Babies and small children are at a stage where theyre still developing their immune systems. So, while you or any other healthy adults may not suffer from the effects of mold, your kids are always at risk.
Note: Its still possible for adults with weakened immune systems or those who are allergic to mold to experience these symptoms.
The main thing you need to know is that the diseases that are associated with molds are common among children. Its easy to dismiss mold symptoms as nothing serious.
Here are a few:
Allergic Reactions
To be clear:
Respiratory Problems
How Mold Takes Hold
While many kinds of mold can grow inside buildings, the most common culprit is Stachybotrys atra, also called Stachybotrys chartarum or black mold. S. atra is greenish black and thrives where there is a continuous supply of moisture and nutrients . Mold also can grow inside building vents and air-conditioning systems.
S. atra is not itself toxic, but it can produce toxins, as can other molds, called mycotoxins. But even when mycotoxins are not present, inhaled spores can cause an allergic reactionan immune system reactionor nonallergic irritation of lungs and nasal passages.
People with allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are most likely to have a reaction or a worsening of the symptoms of their condition when they inhale mold spores. In otherwise healthy people, typical symptoms include stuffy nose, itchy eyes and wheezingwhich usually clear up quickly once the exposure stops.
Mycotoxins, on the other hand, can be nasty. Some mycotoxins are powerful enough to kill bacteria and mycotoxins have been weaponized for chemical warfare. Mycotoxins from common indoor molds are not as deadly but still can cause acute and chronic illness.
What Are The Signs Of Mold In Your House
Musty smells are a tell-tale sign of mold. Another common indicator is visible signs of water damage.
As mentioned earlier, mold grows fast. Within 24 hours of a water leak, or a flood, mold will begin to take hold. This mold can grow on anything thats humid walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, and even wet laundry.
When there is a chance of mold, its important to have a professional in to test. Professionals qualified to do environmental investigations can:
- Check the surfaces of your house for mold
- Test the air for spores
- Help you to identify sources of moisture
- Identify where the mold is growing and help you decontaminate your house
- Use natural enzymes to kill mold spores
If you dont get rid of all sources of mold, you risk getting sick from it.
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What Health Effects Can Be Caused By Exposure To Mold
Some people are more sensitive to molds than others. These include
- infants and children
- elderly persons
- immune compromised persons
- individuals with existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma and allergies
The same amount of mold may cause health effects in one person, but not in another. Exposure to molds can cause allergic symptoms such as watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, itching, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and headaches.
When airborne mold spores are present in large numbers, they can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, asthma episodes, infections and other respiratory problems for people. Exposure to high spore levels can cause the development of an allergy to the mold. See the Illinois Department of Public Healths fact sheet, Mold and Your Health, for more information about health effects.
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What To Expect At The Emergency Room
Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.
The provider will measure and monitor the person’s vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. The person may receive:
- Blood and urine tests
- Breathing support, including oxygen through a tube into the lungs, and a breathing machine
- Bronchoscopy — camera down the throat to look for burns in the airways and lungs
- Endoscopy — camera down the throat to look for burns in the esophagus and the stomach
- Fluids through a vein
- Medicine to reverse the effect of the poison and treat symptoms
- Surgical removal of burned skin
- Tube through the mouth into the stomach to aspirate the stomach. This is done only when the person gets medical care within 30 to 45 minutes of the poisoning, and a very large amount of the substance has been swallowed
- Washing of the skin — perhaps every few hours for several days
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Is There A Test To Determine If I Have Been Exposed To Mold
Some physicians have recommended testing for mold-specific antibodies. Thepresence of antibodies only indicates that you have been exposed to a substanceat some time. It does not tell you when you were exposed, where the exposuretook place, or how much of the mold you were exposed to. Having a positive testfor mold-specific antibodies alone is generally considered insufficient toprove that health effects reported by individuals in moisture-damaged buildingsare caused by exposure to mold.
Removing Mold From Your Home
Resolve any issues causing mold growth, and throw away anything affected by mold or contributing to mold growth that you cant clean.
- Wear protective gear. As youre dealing with the moldy area, cover yourself with a mask, gloves, goggles, and rubber boots. If youre cleaning a lot of mold, you can also wear disposable clothing or a mold-resistant suit.
- Ventilate the room. Open all doors and windows to increase ventilation.
- Sort and discard. Remove any objects from the area that havent been touched by mold growth. Throw away any items that cant be cleaned.
- Replace moldy housing materials. Cut away and replace mold-damaged drywall, ceiling tiles, and carpet.
- Scrub and disinfect. Cover and scrub nonporous surfaces affected by mold with bleach, a fungicide, or detergent and water, then dry them. Dont mix cleaning products together.
- Address any water issues. Make sure any water problems are fixed and the area is dry before you renovate the room.
You cant prevent all mold, but you can reduce the amount in your home. Here are some dos and donts for managing mold and keeping it from growing indoors.
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Cognitive And Mood Problems
Exposure to mold, according to the Florida Department of Health, can cause cognitive problems such as memory loss and mood swings 3. In some individuals, these can lead to depression, fatigue and loss of interest in everyday activities. Mycotoxins can cause sleep disturbances and if left untreated, can lead to neurological problems such as impaired balance and difficulty walking.
- Exposure to mold, according to the Florida Department of Health, can cause cognitive problems such as memory loss and mood swings 3.
- Mycotoxins can cause sleep disturbances and if left untreated, can lead to neurological problems such as impaired balance and difficulty walking.
What Are The Effects Of Breathing In Mold Or Mildew
Mold and mildew, found everywhere in the environment, are both fungi that need to be in moist areas to grow. Areas that are dark and have poor air quality can also contain mold and mildew. These fungi will eventually damage the surfaces they grow on by spreading seeds or spores. These spores can enter the air and be inhaled, or come into contact with your skin. While not always harmful, inhaling or touching mold or mildew can cause both minor and serious symptoms in some people.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
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How Do Doctors Test For Mold Exposure
If you are aware of mold growth in your home and you feel sick let the doctor know that right away. But sometimes you cant see mold, and it is not clear whether its mold exposure thats made you sick or not.
Because mold allergy or mold exposure symptoms can resemble that of other allergies, the doctor will typically start by asking about your medical and family medical history. Additionally, doctors usually run tests for mold exposure which may include one or more of the following:
- Skin test for reactions to allergens, including mold
- IgG mold antibodies test to see the immune systems reaction to molds. A positive test means that an individual was or is currently exposed to mold
- Urine mycotoxins test
- A fungal culture of the nose sinuses
The type of testing youll receive depends on the doctor you visit, so be sure to ask questions ahead of time so you can feel confident in your diagnosis.
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How Are We Exposed To Mold
Mold needs organic matter to feed upon and moisture in order to grow. When growing conditions are right, mold releases spores and volatile organic compounds into the air, which may make some people feel sick.
Mold spores may be breathed in or absorbed through skin. Mold can also grow on food and may be hazardous if ingested.
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How Do Doctors Diagnose Mold Allergy
To diagnose an allergy to mold or fungi, your doctor will take a complete medical history and do a physical exam. If they think you have a mold allergy, the doctor often will do allergy skin tests or a blood test. The doctor uses your medical history, the allergy test results, and a physical exam to diagnose a mold allergy.
What Causes Aspergillosis
In most cases, aspergillosis is caused by a type of mold called Aspergillus fumigatus. Aspergillus mold can often be found on dead leaves, compost piles and other decaying vegetable matter, stored grain, and even foods and spices. The mold spores may be carried indoors on shoes and clothing and can grow on carpeting. Window unit air conditioners are susceptible to mold growth if filters are not kept clean, and water does not drain properly from the unit. Sites where buildings are being torn down or renovated may be contaminated with mold spores.
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Use A Humidity Monitor
Lastly, put up a humidity monitor in your home. This will let you know if the humidity levels are within a healthy range. By watching over the humidity level, you can prevent your home from being a breeding ground of black molds.
On average, the ideal humidity level for household settings is 30% to 50%. Once it goes beyond 55%, your home becomes an ideal place for mold growth. This is what you need to avoid.
A humidity monitor will keep an eye on the moisture level. This way, you can act fast to fix leaks and remove other sources of dampness.
What Is Black Mold
One shade, many types
Black mold is the misnomer often assigned to the mold species Stachybotrys chartarum, which is just one of many species of black mold. Another example is Aspergillus niger. It may surprise you that there are more than 60 other species of black mold that may have deleterious effects on human health, though this article will only concern Stachybotrys chartarum. Black mold gets its name because it contains melanin, which is responsible for its coloration. Interestingly, the melanin offers protection to the mold colony from the damaging and oxidizing effects of their environment..
How common is it?
Commonly found indoor molds include Penicillium, Cladosporium Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Fusarium.
Stachybotrys, although notorious in name, is less common in water damaged buildings when compared to other molds. While it does not occur as often as other molds, it is not rare and should be addressed appropriately.
Most molds require humidity levels ranging from 35%-70%, while Stachybotrys prefers general humidity over 90%. The lower humidity range associated with common molds is more representative of what is found throughout the average home. Therefore, it is more likely that Stachybotrys will only reside in high humidity areas, while the other common molds have a higher likelihood of residing throughout the house.
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B Types Of Mold In Lungs Diseases
Mildest health problem causedby mold growing in your lungs is breathing problem. When the mold enters yourrespiratory system, it can cause inflammation to the internal organ evenswollen lungs that can block airways. This condition is a high prevalence forpeople with immune system disorder and trigger asthma, chest pain, persistentcoughing, etc.
When mold in lungs treatment is not treated properly, it can cause asthma, a chronic lung illness that produces extra mucus in your airways. The swelling may block the air passage in your lungs, making it hard to breathe. Mold-related asthma is characterized by symptoms including chest pain and tightness, wheezing, and coughing.
The most severe case of mold in your lungs infection is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Now, the illness wont build up in one night, but it is highly linked to and particularly persistent in people with asthma or other allergies. When the spores enter the respiratory system, it will block the airways, and more thick mucus is produced.
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What About Black Mold
While black mold is often used as a blanket term to describe many forms of mold, the picture of black mold that probably appears in your mind is that of Stachybotrys chartarum. This mold usually has a greenish-black appearance and tends to grow on materials with a high cellulose content, such as paper, fiberboard and drywall. Black mold needs a continuous supply of moisture to grow and spread, so its especially prevalent in locations with water leaks, water damage, condensation or flooding.
Stachybotrys chartarum is one of the most widely feared types of mold, often being used as the most dangerous and potentially life-threatening mold in households worldwide. This was largely impacted between 1993 and 1996, when 10 young infants in Cleveland, OH, all developed a serious condition known as idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage . One of the infants passed away from this disease. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a study on this incident and determined that each of the children was living in households with very high levels of Stachybotrys chartarum. Following the release of this CDCs research, people all over the country concluded that black mold was extremely dangerous and potentially lethal.
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How Common Is Mold In Buildings
Molds are very common in buildings and homes. Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.
The most common indoor molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. We do not have precise information about how often different molds are found in buildings and homes.
