Treatment FAQ

when should you seek treatment for mold

by Garrison Walker IV Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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In addition to reducing mold exposure, your doctor might recommend over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medicine. If your symptoms are mild, you might be able to take the medication whenever your symptoms are bothersome. But if you have moderate or severe symptoms, you might need to take them daily.

Symptoms of mold exposure are not usually an emergency, but in some instances, you should seek immediate medical treatment. Go directly to the nearest emergency room or call 911 if you: Have significant trouble breathing. Have an asthma attack that doesn't respond to your usual medication or seems worse than usual.

Full Answer

What to do if you have been exposed to mold?

Treating Mold Ingestion. Determining the problems ingested mold is causing will help your physician to plan an effective course of treatment. Respiratory problems often occur in individuals that are hypersensitive to mold. Treatment is usually provided in the form of allergy medications and nutrients that boost the immune system.

How do you treat respiratory problems caused by mold?

Respiratory problems often occur in individuals that are hypersensitive to mold. Treatment is usually provided in the form of allergy medications and nutrients that boost the immune system. Antifungal medications and other types of medications are used in the treatment of acute situations of mold hypersensitivity.

Should I see a doctor for mold allergy symptoms?

Sometimes, it can be difficult to know if mold is causing your symptoms. Many side effects of mold exposure are similar to other conditions, like seasonal allergies. Some symptoms also take time to appear. Your best bet is to see a doctor, even if you’re unsure your symptoms are related to mold.

Who should not enter a building with mold damage?

If you have a weakened immune system (such as from cancer treatment or medicines that suppress the immune system), do not enter a building with mold damage. People with a weakened immune system are more likely to get a serious illness from mold. Children should also not enter buildings with mold damage.

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What are the signs of mold toxicity?

What are the symptoms of mold toxicity?Cognitive difficulties (brain fog, poor memory, anxiety)Pain (especially abdominal pain, but can include muscle pain similar to fibromyalgia)Unexplained weight gain or weight loss.Numbness and tingling in extremities or other areas of the body.Metallic taste in the mouth.More items...•

Does mold need to be treated?

CDC does not recommend mold testing. The health effects of mold can be different for different people so you cannot rely on sampling and culturing to know if you or a member of your family might become sick. No matter what type of mold is present, you need to remove it.

What happens if you are around mold for too long?

Toxic mold exposure is also connected to more serious, long-term effects like insomnia, memory loss, trouble concentrating and confusion. Mold exposure contributes to depression and anxiety. It can even lead to muscle cramps, numbness in extremities, weight gain, light sensitivity and hair loss.

What can a doctor do for mold exposure?

Other treatments for mold allergy include:Immunotherapy. This treatment — a series of allergy shots — can be very effective for some allergies, such as hay fever. ... Nasal lavage. To help with irritating nasal symptoms, your doctor might recommend that you rinse your nose daily with salt water.

Can I stay in my house with black mold?

Because of the risks that come with mold exposure, it can be unsafe to sleep in a house with mold, particularly in the affected areas because you put yourself at risk of mold allergies. This becomes especially concerning if you are sensitive to the mold.

How long does it take for mold to spread in walls?

mildew and mold will develop within 24-48 hours of water exposure. Even worse, it will continue to grow until steps are taken to eliminate the source of moisture, and effectively deal with the mold problem. Use the diagram on the facing page to assess the extent of mold in your home.

What happens if you live in a house with mold?

In some cases, mold in your home can make you sick, especially if you have allergies or asthma. Whether or not you're allergic to molds, mold exposure can irritate your eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs.

Can mold grow in your lungs?

The mold spores can colonize (grow) inside lung cavities that developed as a result of chronic diseases, such tuberculosis, emphysema, or advanced sarcoidosis. The fibers of fungus might form a lump by combining with white blood cells and blood clots.

Is mold exposure reversible?

Long-term mold exposure can have a negative effect on memory, specifically short-term memory. Mold exposure can cause issues with concentration, judgment, and overall brain function. Luckily, memory loss caused by mold is often reversible once the mold is eliminated from a home.

How do you prove mold is making you sick?

How are mold allergies and exposure diagnosed?Blood test. Your doctor takes a blood sample and then sends it to a laboratory to measure the number of certain antibodies, which can indicate your immune system's sensitivity to different mold species.Skin prick test.

How quickly can mold make you sick?

If you have a mold allergy, your immune system thinks certain mold spores are invaders, or allergens. So, when you inhale spores, your body reacts by triggering sneezing or nasal congestion. This can happen immediately or after exposure, depending on your body.

How do you test for mold toxicity?

The best testing methods to utilize are our urine mycotoxin test and our home environment test the EMMA. Mold testing will give you a comprehensive mold and mycotoxin look into your body and home. For more information on these tests, I recommend reading about finding mold in your home and about mold growth.

What is the best treatment for mold?

Here are some of the treatments or medications that are used to address mold exposure. Antihistamines: For the runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, and itching that comes from exposure to mold, these medications can be helpful.

How to recover from mold poisoning?

The primary consideration is removing the source of the toxin, either through mold remediation and cleanup or by taking yourself out of the environment. If you have found mold in your home, don’t delay in having it removed.

How do mold spores enter the body?

Breathing in mold spores is the most common way for mold spores to enter your system. Individual spores, unlike colonies of growth, are invisible to the naked eye. This makes it nearly impossible to know if you are ingesting spores into your nasal passages and letting them take root down in your lungs.

How does mold develop?

Mold develops when the perfect environment is created, which is usually a combination of moisture, humidity, and organic material. Spores can migrate away from thriving colonies through the air, landing on shoes, blankets, showerheads, or your HVAC ductwork. As it spreads, it releases toxic chemicals called mycotoxins.

What are the side effects of mold exposure?

These include: Confusion and disorientation. Chronic weakness and fatigue.

Is mold toxicity hard to diagnose?

Mold exposure can be hard to diagnose since toxicity symptoms mimic several other health conditions. However, in severe situations, exposure to mold warrants a visit to a medical professional. This guide can help you narrow down your exposure, possible signs of illness, and how a doctor can help.

Can mold be avoided?

In short, the mold problem needs to be taken care of completely. If not, you will simply be managing the symptoms. It is also difficult to completely avoid any mold exposure, which means some medications or therapies will ease the symptoms rather than offer a cure.

What is the priority for mold treatment?

The priority for mold illness treatment is differentiating the group an individual falls into the general population, allergy, or genetically susceptible. If the symptoms are acute, then identifying the source influences the treatment. Doctors typically consider nasal corticosteroids, antihistamines, decongestants, immunotherapy, and nasal lavage.

What percentage of people are allergic to mold?

Approximately 10% of the population is allergic to mold, and 25% is genetically susceptible to mold-related illnesses. The most common indoor fungi are Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Stachybotrys.

Why does mold affect the body?

Mold illness presents in a multitude of ways because fungi can affect multiple bodily systems. While mold allergies can become very serious, the mold tends to flush from the body. In genetically susceptible people, the mycotoxins do not leave the body. Therefore, it can start by affecting one system and eventually affects several systems and cause a rapid decline in health.

How do molds get into the body?

The toxins may be absorbed by the body through touch, breathing, or eating. Less than 5% of the general population can become gravely ill. However, exposure to toxigenic molds by genetically susceptible people and those with suppressed immune systems can cause a wide array of health issues.

What is black mold?

Stachybotrys. Commonly known as “black mold” because of its greenish-black color. This species of mold grows on high-cellulose and low nitrogen materials. Stachybotrys can be found on gypsum board, paper, dust, fiberboard, or lint.

Is mold a genetic disease?

If the mold illness is chronic, then the person may be genetically susceptible. In genetically susceptible people, the amount of exposure does not equal the immune response, unlike an allergy. The course of treatment depends on many factors, including: Chronically ill mold patients may suffer from biotoxin illness.

Is mold a fungus?

Most molds are non-toxic and not poisonous.

How to get rid of mold in a house?

Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely. Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely. Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy.

Can mold grow on plastic lawn chairs?

Please note that mold may cause staining and cosmetic damage. It may not be possible to clean an item so that its original appearance is restored. Mold growing on the underside of a plastic lawn chair in an area where rainwater drips through and deposits organic material. Mold growing on a piece of ceiling tile.

Can mold grow in a crevice?

Mold can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold may be difficult or impossible to remove completely. Avoid exposing yourself or others to mold. See discussions: What to Wear When Cleaning Moldy Areas. Hidden Mold.

What is the best treatment for mold?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may even be recommended for those individuals whose bodies need a boost to effectively metabolize and remove the mold toxins from tissue and cells. Determining the problems ingested mold is causing will help your physician to plan an effective course of treatment.

What is the treatment for mold hypersensitivity?

Treatment is usually provided in the form of allergy medications and nutrients that boost the immune system. Antifungal medications and other types of medications are used in the treatment of acute situations of mold hypersensitivity.

Can mold spores be absorbed?

Some spores can even be absorbed through the skin. Once inside the body, mold spores have the potential to become quite harmful, depending on the sensitivity of the infected individual, the overall health of the individual and the type of mold that they have been infected with.

Is mold a fungus?

While simple and microscopic, mold is a fungus that is not only unwelcome for sanitary purposes, but because it is dangerous. Mold spores quickly take up residence in warm, moist environments, and many types of spores are quite toxic to humans. If you have been affected by the ingestion of mold, it's important to seek treatment.

Can mold attack the body?

Learn More. Once inside the body, mold can quickly attack different parts of the body, depending on how it has been absorbed. Spores that have been inhaled often cause respiratory issues, including asthma, sinus infections and other types of infections.

Can mold be harmful?

Once inside the body, mold spores have the potential to become quite harmful, depending on the sensitivity of the infected individual, the overall health of the individual and the type of mold that they have been infected with.

Why Is Injection Mold Treatment Important?

Perhaps the easiest answer to this question is – to save costs. This makes sense when you consider how much molds cost. A single mold can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and that’s just the cost to purchase it. This cost can and should be avoided, and injection molding tool surface treatment is one way to accomplish this.

Types of Surface Treatment for Plastic Injection Mold Tools

Steel is hard, yes. But is it hard enough to protect injection molds from wear and tear after prolonged exposure to molten resin of high temperature and pressure? No, not quite. Different surface treatments can afford the much-needed extra protection. We will briefly examine a few of them below.

Considerations for Mold Treatment

There are several factors to consider before applying the various mold finishing tool. Here are some of them.

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Allergies and sensitivities

Everyone reacts to mold differently. Your personal sensitivity to mold will influence how quickly you develop symptoms.

Amount of mold

The amount of mold also determines how long it takes for symptoms to start.

Duration of exposure

Similarly, the duration of the one-time mold exposure matters. After all, the longer you’re exposed to mold, the more spores you will inhale. This increases your overall exposure.

Proximity to mold

It also depends on how close you are to the mold. That’s because proximity affects how much mold you’re exposed to.

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