Rain and high humidity in autumn create more favourable conditions than usual for the growth of mold fungi, according to Vera Bondarchuk, head of the microbiological research department at the LabQuest laboratory and a bacteriologist. Speaking to the Russian outlet Lenta.ru, she warned that the fungal allergies mold can trigger are often mistaken for an ordinary respiratory infection.
Bondarchuk said mold should not be searched for only in the bathroom or kitchen. It can develop behind furniture and under finishing materials, on damp patches of wall, inside air conditioners, and on the rubber seals of washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators and window frames. She added that the first sign is often not a visible stain but a persistent smell of damp, condensation, or a surface that keeps getting wet.
Symptoms of a fungal allergy
According to Bondarchuk, fungal allergy is marked above all by symptoms affecting the airways: a blocked nose, sneezing, watery discharge, coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. She said redness and itching of the eyes, watering eyes and, in some cases, skin reactions can also occur.
How it differs from hay fever
Unlike pollinosis, or hay fever, this type of allergy can cause problems year-round, Bondarchuk said, because many mold fungi are able to grow in high humidity regardless of the season.
She said symptoms can worsen in damp rooms, during contact with rotting leaves and moist soil while gardening, and, for some people, in workplaces that involve regular contact with fungal aerosols or organic raw materials.
Warning signs and common allergens
Bondarchuk said frequent bouts of bronchitis or rhinosinusitis that drag on or keep recurring should raise concern. Among the most common fungal allergens, she named Alternaria, Cladosporium, Aspergillus and Penicillium. In autumn, she said, these symptoms are especially easy to mistake for a respiratory infection.
Diagnosis and more serious risks
Bondarchuk said the cause cannot be identified from symptoms alone, so a doctor may recommend an allergological examination if the condition is prolonged or keeps recurring. For most people, she said, contact with mold leads mainly to allergic and respiratory symptoms, but more serious risks exist. In patients with severely weakened immune systems, she said, some mold fungi can cause infections, and in severe cases among at-risk patients a fungal infection can lead to systemic complications, including sepsis.
Removing mold at home
Bondarchuk said the presence of mold in a home does not necessarily mean it will lead to serious illness, but a patch that keeps growing back should not be ignored. She said that if mold reappears, it is important not only to remove the visible coating but also to find the source of excess moisture, by checking ventilation and fixing leaks or persistent condensation. As long as the conditions for fungal growth remain, she said, the problem will keep coming back.
Oleg Krivtsun, an allergist at the medical company SberZdorovie, said earlier that allergy sufferers should not relax too soon with the arrival of autumn, since fallen leaves can also trigger an attack.
