Have you been sneezing, coughing, and rubbing your eyes a lot lately? You may blame your spring allergies, but mold growth could be contributing to your symptoms more than you realize. Use this guide to help you pinpoint the actual culprit and find the relief you seek.

Telling the Difference between Spring Allergies and Mold Exposure

Since hay fever and mold allergy symptoms are similar, it can be difficult to tell them apart. Here are the symptoms specifically linked to mold exposure:

  • Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Itchy eyes, nose, and throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Watery eyes
  • Wheezing or difficulty breathing
  • Postnasal drip
  • Dry skin rash

If you experience the above symptoms, watch out for these additional signs that household mold—not hay fever—is to blame:

  • You experience spring allergy symptoms at home, even though the windows are always closed.
  • Your symptoms worsen when you spend time in a certain location, such as the basement or bathroom.
  • Your allergy medication isn’t helping.
  • You recently recovered from a plumbing leak or flood damage.
  • You detect a lingering musty odor.

Complications of Mold Exposure

Most mold allergies cause nothing more than hay fever-like symptoms. They might make you feel miserable, but they aren’t serious. However, some people with mold allergies experience more severe complications. These may include:

  • Mold-induced asthma: People with asthma and mold allergies may have flare-ups when they breathe in spores.
  • Allergic fungal sinusitis: This is an inflammatory reaction to fungus in the sinuses.
  • Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: People with asthma or cystic fibrosis may have this severe reaction if fungus enters the lungs.
  • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: While rare, this condition can cause lung inflammation following exposure to airborne particles, including mold spores.
  • Childhood asthma: Kids are more likely to develop asthma if they are exposed to household mold at a young age.

Preventing Household Mold

Sometimes, mold grows in plain sight. However, it’s common for colonies to form above the ceiling, behind the wall, and under the floor. Whether you hope to combat your hay fever-like symptoms or protect your family from more serious complications, follow these tips to minimize household mold:

  • Dry off tub and shower areas after bathing or showering.
  • Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products at least once a month.
  • Run exhaust fans in the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room while showering, cooking, and drying clothes.
  • Regularly check your roof, windows, foundation, and plumbing for leaks.
  • Run a dehumidifier to keep the relative humidity below 50% at all times.
  • Replace carpet that has been soaked for more than 24 hours.

If you suspect your hay fever symptoms are actually caused by a mold allergy, request mold remediation from DKI today. We follow industry standards as we assess your living environment and formulate a plan to restore your property. Call us at 877-533-0210 or contact us online to begin the mold cleanup process.