Black mold and other household fungi can cause allergic reactions in some people, as well as asthma attacks in people with existing asthma. The CDC reports that everyone gets some mold exposure each day, but that large fungal concentrations can pose long-term health risks.
Removing the causes of mold allergies from the environment, and treating the itchy eyes and respiratory symptoms will help patients recover. Diligent cleaning and attention to air quality will be necessary to prevent or reduce future mold allergy symptoms.
Mold Removal
Mold will grow when left undisturbed in the right habitat. People with mold allergies breathe in airborne allergens from these environments, and their bodies automatically release the chemicals that induce itching, sneezing and nasal problems. While medications can address these allergy symptoms, only the removal of mold will stop the allergic reaction that causes them.
Clean larger, visible colonies of black mold with a bleach solution of 1 cup bleach to 1 gallon water, according to the CDC. Dispersed mold growths that you can't detect, and molds hidden in floor and wall coverings, can be identified and removed by specialists. Breathing problems that develop after a home or work building has suffered water damage indicate a potential mold problem.
Over-the-counter Remedies
Use antihistamines and decongestants to treat isolated symptoms of mold allergies after being in a damp basement or pulling out old carpeting. Nonprescription antihistamine liquids or tablets make convenient treatments for itching, sneezing and runny nose problems. Cetirizine or diphenhydramine can be taken upon noticing visible black mold or developing symptoms. However, these medications may be impractical for chronic bouts, notes the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, due to their sedating properties. Loratadine is a non-drowsy antihistamine formula. Decongestant tablets or nasal sprays temporarily relieve stuffy-nose allergy symptoms. Take the decongestant drugs phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine only when you become congested, because they can only be tolerated for a few days.
Prescription Treatments
For more persistent allergy symptoms, choose prescription-strength antihistamines or nasal corticosteroids. Antihistamine dosing with drugs such as fexofenadine or desloratadine can follow the fungal reproductive cycles, stopping and starting as your symptoms make it necessary. Nasal corticosteroid sprays, including flunisolide and fluticasone propionate, must be used continually or prior to symptom onset to effectively protect you against black mold allergens. MayoClinic.com notes that orally inhaled corticosteroids such as monetlukast or budesonide may be necessary for long-term control of asthma symptoms associated with mold allergies.
Member Comments