Black Mold Health Effects

The way an insidious fungal infestation in a home can affect its inhabitants are wide and varied. Some people will hardly be affected at all, while others will suffer from severe illnesses or even death. The wide range of symptoms depends largely on the type of infestation in the home, the extent of this infestation, and the people who are living in the home at the time.

What are the Health Effects of Black Mold?

There are thousands of different types of mold and mildew, some of which are harmless and others of which can cause serious health issues. Also, a large amount of relatively harmless fungi can be harmful, but even a small amount of very toxic fungi can be even more harmful. Beyond this, black mold health effects of infestations are determined by the constitutions of the people living in the infected homes.

People who are most prone to disease and allergic reactions from mold already have other health problems. For instance, people who have seasonal allergies and are sensitive to environmental irritants will be more likely to have allergic reactions to mold, and people who already have compromised immune systems are much more likely to come down with a disease caused by the mold.

That said, mold can be harmful in one way or another to every member of your family or household, and there are several effects that mold can have on people.

Perhaps the most common reaction to mold infestations is allergic reactions. These allergies can look like seasonal allergies, with itchy noses, watery eyes, and even extra drainage and sneezing. The problem is that these allergies aren’t seasonal; they will be constant until the underlying problem is eradicated.

Some people can also have more severe respiratory reactions to mold. Many will have constant sinus infections or cold-like symptoms, and others will even experience bleeding lungs. The latter is more common in infants, who haven’t yet built up defenses against things like mold.

Lastly, mold infections can cause even more serious health reactions, including serious infectious diseases. Most people can get rid of mold after they breathe it in or ingest it, but people with weak immune systems may be seriously harmed, and they may even die from mold infestations.