Allergies are the result of an unusually sensitive immune system responding to substances known as allergens. Patients with mold allergies have a strong reaction to certain kinds of mold. These allergies are often worse from July until the end of summer because the hot and humid climate promotes mold growth.
Spores
Patients who have an allergy to mold, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), develop allergic symptoms when they inhale mold spores. Molds, like all fungi, produce spores as a way of spreading and reproducing. These spores are able to spread through the air and are resistant to heat and drying out. When they are inhaled, they come into contact with the lining of the respiratory system, where they can lead to the allergic reaction.
Mold Types
Many kinds of molds lie within the environment, but the AAFA explains that only a few dozen of them are able to cause allergic symptoms. Penicillium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Helmin thosporium, Rhizopus, Mucor, Fusarium and Aureobasidium are the most common molds that can cause allergies.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a mold allergy are similar to those of other respiratory allergies, the Mayo Clinic explains. Patients having an allergic reaction to mold may have an itchy or runny nose or may sneeze frequently. They can also have mucous drain from their nose into the rest of the respiratory system (known as postnasal drip), which can lead to lung congestion and coughing. Patients may experience sinusitis and watery eyes.
Risk Factors
Patients with mold allergies often have a family history of allergies. Other factors can also make mold allergies worse. The Mayo Clinic notes that patients who have jobs that expose them to mold (such as farming, carpentry or wine-making) may have more severe allergic symptoms. People who live or work in humid buildings or ones that have been exposed to large quantities of moisture (due to flooding or leaky pipes) may also experience an exacerbation of their allergies.
Treatments
Mold allergies have a variety of treatment options. The most straightforward method involves attempting to avoid or minimize exposure to mold spores by avoiding humid or moisture-damaged buildings. Patients can also use nasal sprays with corticosteroids to reduce inflammation in their sinuses. Antihistamines and decongestants are over-the-counter medications that provide symptomatic relief. Finally, cromolyn (available over-the-counter) and montelukast (prescription) are two medications that can help limit allergic reactions.
Complications
Although mold allergies are typically more of an inconvenience rather than a serious medical problem, mold allergies can lead to serious complications. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, the Mayo Clinic explains, is a dangerous fungal infection that can afflict patients with asthma and other lung problems, such as cystic fibrosis. Mold can also trigger severe asthma attacks in patients who have both asthma and mold allergies. Allergic fungal sinusitis is the result of mold spores growing in the sinuses and can require surgical treatment. Finally, mold spores in the lungs can lead to inflammation of the lung tissue, leading to a condition known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
