Everything You Need to Know about Mold Allergy
Because there are more than a thousand varieties of mold in the atmosphere, and because only certain types of mold are able to trigger an allergic reaction, mold allergy is, in fact, less frequent than people believe.

 Unlike pollen allergy which is observed only during certain seasons, molds, or fungi as they are also known, are found in all types of environment, regardless of the weather. In addition, knowing that the molds can develop both indoors and outside is very important. However, certain molds that grow outside have a stronger effect between spring and autumn.

Molds are known to cause allergy asthma, so avoiding the environments where these develop is the best solution. In fact, the majority of the symptoms of mold allergy are related to the respiratory tract. Therefore, the most common symptoms of mold allergy are sneezing, wheezing, stuffed nose, and itch of the nose and throat. Shortness of breath may also be experienced by people who suffer from old allergy.

In addition, itch of the eyes and skin, as well as cough, can be observed. The severity of the symptoms differs from one person to another, as the immune system is not the same. However, the period of time in which the symptoms are observed depends on how long is the exposure to the allergen.

The way the allergic reaction is triggered has not been pinpointed, yet. However, it is known that when people inhale the molds, the immune system considers that they are dangerous intruders. As soon as this happens several chemical substances, also known as antibodies, are set free into the body. The main such chemical substances are histamine and lgE. The first one causes the irritation of the skin, of the nose and of the eyes, while the other one is responsible for the effect on the respiratory tract. In addition, lgE is known to be the antibody that triggers allergy asthma.

As it has been mentioned before, the way allergy is provoked has not been established, yet. However, the scientists have been able to pinpoint some risk factors. In some cases, mold allergy is transmitted from one generation to another. In conclusion, this allergy has an hereditary aspect. Next, living in an environment that is characterized by an increased humidity may also be considered a risk factor. The new houses feature hermetically sealed windows and doors that do not allow good ventilation, fact that creates a perfect environment for the mold.

 As in the case of all the other types of allergy, the treatment is usually based on antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays and bronchodilators. When none of these work, people can try immunotherapy.