Overview

Mold allergies are generally caused by household or airborne molds. It is a type of allergy which is difficult to treat due to its existence in everyday life. Mold allergies generally lead to asthma causing severe allergic reaction, symptoms mainly occurs when a person inhales mold spores.

Types

Molds are thousands in numbers but all of them does not causes allergy. The molds which are generally responsible for causing allergy are alternaria, aspergillus, cladosporium and penicillium. Generally a person remains allergic to one type of mold.

Symptoms

Mold allergy symptoms are generally accompanied by runny nose, postnasal drip, coughing and sneezing, itchy nose and throat , swollen sinuses and itchy eyes.

Some peoples remain allergic to mold during whole year while others remain allergic for some season when the mold concentration is high. Person with Asthma and mold allergy can suffer from severe asthma attack. Other rare severe symptoms caused by mold includes fungal sinusitis (Growth of mold in sinuses) and hypersensitivity pneumonitis(Lungs become inflamed).

Causes

Mold allergies are generally caused due to the malfunctioning of the immune system. The immune system takes the Mold as the foreign body which may be dangerous to the body causing the production of the immunoglobulin antibodies which in turn releases histamine and other chemicals which leads to allergies symptoms. People with family background are more prone to mold allergies.Also people who works in places with high exposure of mold or in humid condition are attacked by this allergy.

Tests:

It can be determined by skin prick test of exposing a part of skin to mold and checking symptoms. Blood test is also recommended for certain type of mold allergies.

Treatment

Mold allergies are generally treated with decongestants and antihistamines. Some rare cases are prescribed with nasal corticosteroids.