A University of Kentucky article indicates that mold spores can flare asthma and indoor and outdoor molds can contribute to allergy symptoms.
Many people think of allergies and asthma as two completely different diseases. In Kentucky, up to 4 percent of the population has nasal allergies, and 8 percent of the population has asthma. However, allergies are one common trigger for asthma, and often a common thread for the development of asthma. Certain allergens, such as cat dander, dust mite, and grass pollen, have been shown to be associated with the development of asthma in children. But the fall season can be harsh on asthmatics too.
During the fall, children are back in school, which means upper respiratory infections are on the rise; ragweed is pollinating; people are raking leaves and mulch; heating units are turned on; and mold spores from Alternaria will be rising.
The symptoms of a mold nasal allergy can be similar to pollen allergy symptoms; however, my clinical experience has suggested that mold allergic patients don’t sneeze or complain of runny or itchy nose, but are more often stuffy and have more sinus complaints. Additionally, mold spores can flare asthma.
Mold is a fungus that produces spores that travel through the air in dry, windy weather; some outdoor molds spread when the humidity is high. Outdoor molds can cause allergies symptoms spring, summer, and fall. Indoor molds cause year round symptoms and are often due to a water leak and high humidity.
