Pets and Mold

Pet owners must caution that both indoor mold and outdoor mold can negatively affect your pet. If you take your pet, such as your cat or dog, outdoors, beware that mold spores are plentiful during late fall. Concentrations of decaying matter, such as fallen leaves, are a haven for mold growth. In most of Florida (considered a hot spot for mold growth and allergens), especially in the Tampa Bay, residents tend to experience a long fall season with the absence of a true winter. Thus, the possibility of your pup running into mold-infested decaying matter is quite high. In addition, lawns that are not mowed can be a great hiding spot for mold spores.

How can you protect your pet from mold while outdoors? First off, talk to a veterinarian about managing your pet’s allergies. Ensure that your pet is not suffering from any other allergen or issue (food allergies often cause symptoms similar to mold-induced illness). Next, limit exposure and keep your pet indoors if possible. If you have a dog and must venture outside, keep to mowed lawns and packed dirt for potty time. During a walk, keep your furry friend on the sidewalk if possible. Finally, upon returning from a walk, brush your dog and bathe often. Just as much as fleas love to hide in your puppy’s coat, so do mold spores and other outdoor allergens. A good rule of thumb is to brush the dog upon returning from a walk and bathe weekly. In addition to taking these extra precautions for your pet, in general, homeowners can create a less mold-friendly environment by cleaning up decaying leaves as soon as possible. As well, mow the lawn as necessary.

Property Value and Mold

Like most property owners who have experienced some type of contamination such as mold, you have probably asked yourself some of the following questions: How will this issue affect my property value? Will my property value decrease due to the contamination? Do I really have to report an old mold problem that is now fixed?

Answering these questions is not a simple task since, in many cases, the answers depend on the buyer's perception of the condition. In addition, the extent or amount of contamination may also be a factor influencing the buyer's perception of a particular type of contamination.

When your property has been contaminated, the stigma is generally a negative factor and its impact on value often reflects that. The prices negotiated for contaminated real estate are often lower than prices offered for a non-contaminated property of the same standards and conditions.

Another mold-related aspect that may affect your property's value and marketability is the appraisal. Appraisers need to learn the topic of mold carefully to assure that their perception of mold contamination does not unfairly lead to a lowered appraisal.

Purchasing a Mold Infected Home

Never even think of purchasing a home that is infected with mold unless you receive a price reduction that will more than cover mold remediation by qualified professionals. Even then, ask the seller to pay an independent appraiser for a proper valuation of the home and to allow you to obtain quotes from mold remediation firms. Contact your insurance agent to make sure the home is insurable, and contact your mortgage agent to make sure you can get any necessary mortgage before you are able to move in.

If the perspective  home is infested with mold, contact a mold abatement specialist and have it cleaned thoroughly. Especially if you are ready to buy, have a plumber or other expert contractor deal with the source of the mold, which can be leaky pipes, old drywall, improperly waterproofed exterior structures or a combination of factors. Make sure to have all abatement procedures and repairs documented so that the seller can show you the buyer that any and all issues you may have had have been properly dealt with.

An Overview of Fungal Lung Infection

What is a fungal lung infection?

Fungal pneumonia is caused by overgrowth of the fungi in the lungs. Fungal lung infections are usually only seen in those with a poorly functioning immune system, such as those with AIDS. Fungi are plant-like organisms that do not make chlorophyll. Common examples include mushrooms, yeasts, and molds. Fungi are normally present on the skin. Examples of infections that are caused by fungi include histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, cryptococcal pneumonia, coccidioidomycosis, and aspergillosis.

What are the symptoms of a fungal lung infection?

Symptoms of a fungal lung infection depend on the underlying cause. Fungal lung infection can cause cough, fatigue, and fever. Other symptoms include joint pains, muscle aches, and loss of appetite. The fungus can spread from the lungs to the skin, where it causes a rash and forms ulcers.

How does the doctor treat a fungal lung infection?

Treatment for a fungal lung infection includes antifungal medications.

Lung Fungus Symptoms

Fungal lung infections are difficult to treat, because fungal cells are very similar to human cells (eukaryotic). This makes it challenging to find drugs to attack the pathogen, without doing harm to the host. Pathogenic fungi are often dimorphic, meaning they can grow either as molds or yeasts, depending on temperature, they thrive at human body temperature and they do well in the moist conditions found in human tissues. Fungal lung infections are often mistaken for something else such as bacterial pneumonia, tuberculosis, influenza or even cancer. Sometimes a fungal infection can exist for some time before a correct diagnosis is made (although this does not happen as often as it used to). No matter what fungus is involved, the symptoms are very similar.

Endemic invaders have special adaptations and characteristics allowing them to infect just about anyone who is exposed. People inhale dozens, hundreds or even thousands of fungal spores every day, depending on environmental conditions. Immunity to fungi is generally strong, but a few species can establish growth in the lung tissue of healthy hosts.

The endemic species are associated with specific geographic locales, and specific substrates (such as bird droppings). Examples of endemic pathogenic fungi and the mycoses they cause are: Coccidioides immitis (coccidiomycosis), Histoplasma capsulatum (histoplasmosis) and Blastomyces dermatitidis (blastomycosis).

Opportunistic fungal pathogens rarely cause disease in healthy hosts. They may be established by breathing in spores, injection into the body through a traumatic injury or by colonizing severely damaged or burned tissues.

People with weakened immune systems are susceptible to infection by opportunistic fungi. Cancer patients, immunocompromised patients suffering from HIV/AIDS or those who are on a course of immunosuppressive drugs before and after organ transplant, or bone marrow transplant, are at risk.

Often encountered opportunistic fungi and the mycoses they cause include: Aspergillus spp. (aspergillosis) and Cryptococcus neoformans (cryptococcosis).

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.