Mold Stain May Cause Serious Health Problems, Don’t Ignore Them

In the previous article, we talked about what is mold stain and mildew stain and what do they smell like. If you find an unpleasant smell in your house, don’t ignore that smell as it may imply that mold stain starts growing in your house. Apart from the unsightly and bad-smelling mess, mold stain causes damages to your furniture and may lead to health problems as well. 

What kind of health problems will mold stain cause?

photo from iStock

photo from iStock

Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects or none at all. Some people are more sensitive to mold stain than others (Infants, children, immune-compromised patients, pregnant women, individuals with existing respiratory conditions, and the elderly) are at higher risks for adverse health effects from mold stain. If they come into contact with mold stain, they may experience symptoms, such as respiratory problems, nasal and sinus congestion or dry, hacking cough, eye irritation, nose or throat irritation, skin irritations, aches, and pains, etc. 

People with asthma may have more intense reactions

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A study found that infants and young children exposed to mold stain in the home had an increased risk of developing asthma by the age of 7. Severe reactions like shortness of breath and fever may occur among workers who exposed to large amounts of molds stain in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Mold stain exposure may also worsen asthma or lung problems in people with preexisting lung conditions. People with weakened immune systems — such as those with uncontrolled HIV, transplant patients, or people undergoing cancer treatment — are at risk of fungal infections. 

People may suffer hair loss

photo from iStock

The allergic reactions humans suffer from mold stain can lead to hair loss, even in females or children. When you come into contact with mold stain, it triggers the production of a chemical called histamine in your body. Histamine causes itching and that’s why antihistamine medications are often used when someone experiences an allergic reaction. Those medications counteract the histamine and relieve symptoms.