Medical Mold and Allergy

A wide variety of adverse health effects have been linked to mold exposure. Symptoms range from allergic reactions to asthma. Inhaled mycotoxins may cause infections of the sinuses, gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system.

There is no clinically proven test for determining the presence of mold in indoor air, and testing for general mold structural components (eg b-glucans) has not been found useful in diagnosing fungus exposure.

Allergies

Allergy to mold is a common reaction to repeated exposure to spores, which are the reproductive particles of mold. When exposed, the immune system recognizes spores as invaders and responds by creating antibodies to fight them. The immune response releases inflammatory chemicals, including histamine, which leads to typical allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and rashes.

Most people who have allergies to mold only experience irritant effects and may only need over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines, decongestants or bronchodilators. Some people, however, have a severe allergic reaction to molds such as Stachybotrys, and will need medical treatment to manage their symptoms.

Mold irritants can trigger asthma symptoms, and in some cases, even cause the more serious condition known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis. This reaction is more common in individuals who already have a respiratory condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or who are elderly or immunocompromised.

A doctor can test for a black mold allergy by drawing a small amount of blood with a needle (slightly smaller than the size of a standard earring post) and sending it to a lab to measure the level of IgE in the blood that binds to black mold spores. It may take a week or more to get the results of this type of allergy test. Another medical mold option is subcutaneous immunotherapy, or allergy shots, which are regular injections that help to reduce allergen sensitization over time.

Asthma

Mold spores and fragments can trigger asthma in people who have this condition by making the airways tighten and produce more mucus. The symptoms are wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.

Molds also release chemicals called mycotoxins, which may cause various illnesses in humans and animals. Mycotoxins are also found in the lungs of some people with asthma and in their saliva when they are allergic to certain foods, such as mushrooms or a vegetarian “meat” product made from fungi called Quorn.

The level of mycotoxins in the air varies depending on the amount of mold present, whether it is growing or not, and how the mold was cultivated. It is not clear if these mycotoxins are directly responsible for respiratory symptoms or indirectly responsible through the disruption of normal immune regulation.

Allergies to mold spores are common and happen when the immune system is sensitive to these spores. The body sees them as a threat and produces antibodies to fight them off, which can result in a variety of symptoms, such as itchy eyes and skin.

It’s important to note that a person who is allergic to molds will often test positive for allergy to them on standard blood tests, which involve inserting a needle into a vein in the arm and drawing blood for laboratory testing. These tests usually measure the level of IgE (immunoglobulin E), a type of antibody in the blood that binds to mold spores and helps the body defend itself against them.

Immunocompromised patients

Patients with compromised immune systems (for example, those receiving chemotherapy for cancer or stem cell transplantation) are predisposed to infections by a wide variety of organisms that do not normally cause disease in healthy people and also by highly virulent pathogens. The lungs are frequent sites of these opportunistic infections.

Immunocompromised patients may also be at risk of inhaling mold spores or their metabolites, which can lead to a number of problems including allergic reactions, asthma episodes and inflammatory conditions such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, chronic rhinosinusitis and allergy fungal sinusitis.

In addition, some molds are capable of producing potentially toxic medical mold manufacturer compounds known as mycotoxins. One such mycotoxin-producing mold, Stachybotrys chartarum, commonly referred to as black mold, has been the subject of much media attention and has been linked to a variety of illnesses and deaths.

Immunocompromised individuals are at increased risk of infection due to the presence of thermotolerant moulds in healthcare environments. However, it is rare to diagnose a nosocomial mould infection based on clinical symptoms alone. Therefore, immunosuppression in and of itself should not serve as a contraindication to a surgical procedure. Likewise, measurement of antibodies against airborne moulds and mycotoxins is not useful in assessment of exposure or to identify mold-induced illness. Testing for a large number of nonvalidated autoantibodies is particularly inappropriate and should be avoided.

Other health conditions

There are many types of mold, including a greenish-black one commonly known as black mold. This particular mold, Stachybotrys chartarum, grows on things that contain high amounts of cellulose, such as paper, fiberboard and gypsum board (drywall). In general, normal levels of black mold in the environment do not pose significant health risks for healthy people with regular immune system function. But in some people, mold spores can trigger allergies or asthma symptoms.

Irritation from mold exposure often occurs from inhaling microbial volatile organic compounds, which are released when the fungus breaks down materials it lives on. These chemicals can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory tract.

Certain types of mold produce mycotoxins, which can cause severe illness in immunocompromised individuals. While these opportunistic infections are not common, they can affect the skin, lungs and other organs. In addition, mycotoxins can interfere with brain function, and they may induce other neurological difficulties, including memory and concentration problems.

Some physicians recommend blood tests that measure antibodies against different mold species. However, these tests are not scientifically reliable and do not tell a physician how much of a particular mold is in your body or how long you have been exposed. Most doctors agree that if you are symptomatic, you should speak with your doctor about whether or not you have been exposed to enough mold to cause health complications.