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Our conversation today will focus on the threat that we sometimes do not notice, but the invisible enemy destroys our body from the inside. The heroine of our article is Her Majesty Mold. Everyone knows the fact that thanks to the properties of the spores of this fungus, antibiotics appeared in the world that saved millions of lives. Mold components are used to make food: blue cheese is known to real gourmets. It is also added to cosmetics. But in the article we will talk about the harmful properties of mold.
Mold allergies are becoming more and more common among adults and children. About two dozen fungi have now been identified by scientists as allergens that cause severe consequences. Let's try to figure out why mold is so dangerous and where it lives. Mold components can cause serious diseases of the upper respiratory tract, provoke asthma attacks, adversely affect the human cardiovascular system, and also contribute to the spread of other fungi, viruses and bacteria.
What you should know
If you suspect that a fungus has settled in your house, the first thing to look at is the bathroom. It's always warm and humid here. And this is a favorable environment for the development of the fungus. Saves from the occurrence of mold only a well-chosen building material used in the construction of new buildings. Seams in rooms with a high level of humidity are initially impregnated with an antifungal agent. Even more often, fungal deposits settle in the kitchen. Without the knowledge of the owner of the house, somewhere in a dark corner of the kitchen cabinet, where all kinds of jars and boxes are stored, the fungus easily multiplies, having received all the conditions for favorable development.
Harmful spores can be found in houseplant pots, decaying leaves, and also in the soil, so always wear gloves when you want to grow plants.
It is important to know: in no case, in order to disinfect the room, do not dry the mold stain with a quartz lamp. After drying, mold spores will scatter throughout the apartment, and not only will you not get rid of the source of trouble, but you will also get new foci of fungus.
The most dangerous mold
Modern scientists distinguish a huge number of species of fungi and bacteria. According to experts, black and yellow mold bring the greatest damage to health. Black microorganisms are formed more often on the walls of the room, which provokes respiratory diseases. Black mold has an unpleasant odor. But yellow - usually occurs on food. In this case, you can get an attack of food allergies, because the body's immune system always reacts negatively to foreign elements, especially fungi, bacteria and viruses.
Remember: you should never eat foods that have mold. They are toxic and extremely hazardous to health. Therefore, eating them can lead to serious food poisoning.
Reasons for the appearance
The fungus appears where there is a favorable environment for the development of spores. They can be carried by both humans and animals. Mold can also be carried along with food. If the humidity of the room exceeds 75 percent and there is no ventilation, expect mold to visit. Fungus will also appear on wooden surfaces under the condition of an increased level of humidity. Sometimes the fungus can be found on concrete walls, as well as on the surface of the soil.
Misfortune never comes alone. Mold allergies usually occur in people who are allergic to dust , dust mites, and pollen and flowering plants. What provokes the body's reaction to the fungus?
- Constant exposure to high humidity
- Genetic predisposition to allergies
- Long-term contact with damp soil and foliage
- Weakened human immunity
- Other allergic reactions
Symptoms
The symptoms of a mold allergy are as follows:
- Coughing and wheezing in the lungs
- Difficulty breathing and runny nose
- Sneezing and swelling of mucous membranes
- Choking associated with swelling of the larynx
- Burning in the nasopharynx
If the patient suffers from a food allergy associated with the ingestion of mold components into the body, the following symptoms are observed:
- Violation of the digestive tract
- Intestinal spasms
- Rash on the skin
- Severe itching and tearing
Diagnosis of the disease takes time and careful study of blood components. A blood test of immunoglobulin E , is elevated . A competent doctor will definitely ask questions about your diet and lifestyle, prescribe allergy tests .
If there is a suspicion that the cause of your allergy is mold, you should urgently call environmental specialists to the apartment, who will take scrapings from the walls of your home and conduct the necessary analysis. After that, you need to treat the walls with antibacterial agents, ventilate and dry the room. The reason may also lie in improperly installed double-glazed windows. Windows installed in violation of standards can be the cause of the spread of fungus due to constant humidity. Remember that an allergy to mold in an apartment is extremely dangerous. Immediately start the fight against the fungus, do not risk your health.
Mold allergy in a child is a very dangerous disease. The disease proceeds in a very severe form and often leads to an attack of bronchial asthma. Children have a hard time with any allergy. Some parents are unaware of the presence of an allergy in a child and write off the child's constant runny nose and cough for frequent colds. Giving your baby antibiotics and cough syrups can harm the body. The face of a child suffering from allergies is pale, bags appear under the eyes, chronic fatigue and inconstancy of mood appear. An attentive mother will always suspect something is wrong and go to the doctor.
Allergy treatment should begin with the complete cessation of patient contact with the allergen. Next, you will need to drink a course of antihistamines prescribed by an allergist. Note that we do not recommend self-medication. After that, it will not be superfluous to take immune system-supporting drugs and vitamin complexes to strengthen the body and restore strength.
Fight against fungus
Simple tips to help defeat the enemy are located below:
- Carefully treat the surfaces on which the fungus was. Start with a "cap" of mold. It needs to be carefully cleaned.
- Treat the surface with antibacterial antifungal agents.
- Ventilate the room, take care of ventilation.
- Replace water filters in time, as well as filters in the air conditioner, if any, in your home.
- Don't leave moldy foods in the refrigerator: they are breeding grounds for harmful spores and fungus.
- Do not dry clothes in the apartment, this contributes to an increase in the level of humidity in the apartment.
- Get a device that measures the level of humidity in the room. So you can protect yourself to some extent.
- Remember that beer, yeast, and blue cheese contain fungi that can also cause allergies. Eliminate these foods from the diet if there is the slightest suspicion of an allergy.
- Consult an allergist-immunologist for a thorough study of the body's reaction to the allergen.
