Mold Exposure Symptoms In Children

If you have children in your home, especially, those that are younger than 5 years old, it is important that you are watchful for the symptoms of mold. Immune-compromised individuals are also susceptible to the same harsh effects of mold. These symptoms are particularly severe in those that have respiratory symptoms to begin with. For instance, with children that are prone to bronchitis and asthma, wheezing is a fairly common outcome of mold exposure. Performing regular checks with mold removal New York companies can allow you to be vigilant, especially if there are instances that you have noticed leaks or moisture intrusion in your home. Did you know that even vegetation such as trees and shrubs pressing up against your home are a big moisture intrusion risk?

For children, mold exposure starts off as sinus and nasal congestion turning into shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Some mold removal companies report that aspergillosis can begin very early for infants exposed to mold. Aspergillosis is the growth of mold in the lungs. Remember that the only things that mold requires for proliferation is moisture, an organic source of food and air; all of which are easily available in the human lung. Memory lapses in children are not often reported by mold removal New York companies, but are often seen by adults also complaining of confusion, headaches and mood swings when exposed to mold.

If you notice your child’s eyes are bloodshot even though you know that he has slept well, consider calling in a professional mold removal company for an inspection. Watery eyes will soon give way to skin rashes or dermatitis which can become sores over time. Calling in a mold removal company sooner rather than later can give your family a strong chance of a complete recovery. Aspergillosis is a serious issue and can be fatal if it goes unchecked. Once the mold has taken up residence in your lungs, every medical intervention will also damage part of your lungs in the process. So even for the cleanup process, hire a professional mold removal company so that you do not have to put yourself or your family at any more risk. 

Mold Removal In Attics

It’s not often that you climb onto your attic to look for mold. In fact when was the last time that you ventured up there? If you said never, then you are not alone. So if you are told that your attic may be infested with mold, you may be surprised. If you are worried about the presence of mold in your attic, it may make sense to take a flashlight and take a quick look at what shape your attic is in. If you are nervous about mentioning out on your own, then investing in a professional mold testing company may be well worth the expense.

The first sign to look for is characteristic black spots usually observed on the northern side of the house. This appears on the attic sheathing.  Another telltale sign is the appearance of solid black colored wood. It may almost appear as if the wood was torched or was in a fire. Finally, the most disturbing sign is a furry or fuzzy appearance on your rafters and sheathing in the attic. Most mold testing company contractors look for these signs and can recognize them even from a distance.

The most common reasons for the moldy state of your attic is poor insulation that allows the warm air from your house to enter the attic. And other commonly encountered reason as observed by mold testing company investigators is your bathroom ceiling fan being vented into your attic. Of course, a leaky roof is very often the source of your mold.

Now that you have determined that you may have a mold problem, what do you do next?  A very extensive mold infestation may be a risky proposition for a homeowner to take on oneself. The first thing that you may think of is grabbing your spray bottle full of beach and spraying down the rafters and insulation. For severe infestations, this is undoubtedly an ineffective method for mold removal. You may require the services of a professional mold testing company to get rid of your mold. If you are worried about how expensive a mold testing company can be, put in a call to your home owners insurance policy to get an idea of the extent of coverage that you are eligible for in the event of an expensive cleanup.

Can Mold Affect My Pets?

Any person who lives with mold can have their health affected by the home-invader. This is especially true for infants, senior citizens, persons with immune deficiencies and not surprisingly.. our pets. Pets are very susceptible to the harmful effects that come withmold because their noses go where mold grows and their lungs are typically smaller.
Mold induced illness that can affect your pet include sneezing, runny nose, itchy patches, ear infections, increased anxiety and barking, and in some cases pneumonia. Sometimes these illnesses are mistaken for allergies and as long as the mold is in your home, these symptoms will stay.
To help protect your beloved pet from indoor mold, here are three precautions you can take:

• Wash all your pets’ bedding weekly in hot water. Make sure the bedding is completely dry before you give back to your animal. If the bedding is foam and cannot be washed, it is recommended that you discard it after a year.
• Be sure to vacuum often and use a dehumidifier to prevent mold growth.
• Try to bathe your pet regularly if possible.

If you have any more questions or concerns, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Can Air Cleaners Aid in Removing Mold?

Roughly 80% of people who purchase air cleaners / air filters from stores or online have allergies. Many of them have allergies severe enough to include asthma. Although there are some cases of asthma that are not allergic in origin, a significant majority are related to allergy. These people frequently receive recommendations from their physicians to obtain air cleaners of some type. As reported in the May 2005 issue of Consumer Reports, many “ionizing” air cleaners do a poor job of removing particles from the air. As well, these ionizing cleaners usually produce Ozone which can materially exacerbate asthma and other lung diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( COPD ) or Emphysema.

We recommend that people with allergies, especially those with asthma, avoid “ionizing” type air cleaners. Instead, use filtration type air cleaners for such people. Filtration air cleaners are generally less expensive, but they do require regular filter changes or filter cleaning. Forgetting to do this results in having essentially no filter at all.

We also recommend that, if you want to get the most out of your air filters, you should use them mainly in your bedroom, where you spend about 1/3 of your life. It is suggested that you keep your bedroom windows closed, because, otherwise, your filters will be attempting to filter all the outdoor air that comes in through the windows, and that is basically impossible for any filter. If you live in a hot or very humid place, this likely will mean you need to purchase a window unit air conditioner, if you don’t have central air conditioning.

Biodecontamination Cost Consideration

Like any other product or service, you get what you pay for. While new biodecontamination technologies can reduce total project costs when compared to traditional methods, there are no shortcuts or magic bullets to mold remediation. Mold remediation is a labor intensive process. This combined with equipment, insurance, and overhead comprises the majority of project expenses. In addition, most companies utilize job costing software that standardizes job costs.

A Word on Bleach

Bleach is not an effective product for removing mold from porous surfaces.  Chlorine bleach is NOT registered with the EPA as a disinfectant to kill mold. In fact, bleach has been shown to actually accelerate the return of mold and bacteria. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has even gone as far as to issue a special bulletin advising against the use of chlorine bleach for removing mold.

Can Mold Cause Hair Loss?

If you live in a house with a mold problem you could start to lose your hair. The allergic reactions humans suffer from mold can lead to hair loss, even in females or children.

The roots of your hair are nourished by tiny blood vessels called capillaries. If the circulation to these blood vessels is disrupted the hair can fall out or break.

When you breathe in mold spores they trigger allergic reactions in your body. During these allergic reactions your immune system creates a chemical called histamine. The histamine causes inflammation which disrupts the blood flow in the capillaries. This can lead to hairs not getting enough blood and eventually your hair can start to fall out.

If you don't take care of the mold problem in your home then eventually mold allergies can lead to baldness. Hair loss from allergies will usually be in a diffuse pattern.

Hair loss caused by mold exposure can be reversed. Although the regrowth might be slow, in most cases the hair will grow back once a person is no longer exposed to mold.

If you have lost hair from mold exposure you should fix the mold problem and talk to your doctor about treatments without delay for the best chance of maximum regrowth. Hair follicles which are dormant because of mold exposure can be regrown, however once a hair follicle dies you cannot get the hair back.