Signs of mold growth in the home don't always result in allergy symptoms in the inhabitants. The University of Maryland (UM) Medical Center reports that among the various kinds of mold fungi, only a small fraction are allergenic to humans with mold sensitivities. When an indoor mold allergy develops, symptoms come and go based on reproductive cycles and shifting air quality. Patients may mistake their illnesses for viral or bacterial infections or seasonal allergies, until they recognize their exposure to indoor and outdoor mold allergens.
Visual Signs
Individual mold organisms, or hyphae, cannot be seen until they form part of larger fungal structures, or mycelia. Common locations for mold growth include humid basements, attics, bathrooms, kitchens and garbage cans. Garden compost piles, air conditioners and refrigerator drip trays also house home mold colonies. Mold allergy patients can identify these colonies visually by signs such as multiple black specks that appear on hard surfaces or fuzzy coatings growing on food or other organic matter.
Mold allergens can still be present without any of these signs. The UM Medical Center notes that the microscopic mold spores and hyphae themselves can't be seen with the unaided eye. Because these particles can remain in the air for long periods, allergy symptoms can develop even after visible mold colonies have been cleared away.
Itching and Inflammation
A mold allergy causes an abnormal immune system response that sends histamines into the blood and some mucous membranes. This triggers an inflammatory condition that affects the eyes, nose and sinuses. According to the Mayo Clinic, common allergy symptoms include itching and sinusitis. The pressure on inflamed sinuses may lead to headaches and breathing problems, the UM Medical Center relates. Airborne mold allergens encounter the membranes of the eyes and stick, causing them to itch. Inhaled mold bodies and spores can create itching in the nose and throat as well.
Respiratory Symptoms
Along with inflammation of the nasal passages come allergy symptoms that affect breathing, such as sinus congestion. Histamines also allow fluid to collect in the mucous membranes affected by mold allergens, resulting in runny noses and teary eyes. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America notes that these symptoms can confuse mold allergy identification with other allergic reactions, such as to grasses in summer or ragweed in fall.
Patients may endure bouts of sneezing that are meant to force allergens out of the body. Individuals with asthma may experience enhanced respiratory symptoms, including wheezing, coughing fits and shortness of breath.
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