Mold allergy

definition

A mold allergy is an allergic reaction of the body to naturally occurring molds in the ambient air and caused by contamination with different reactions.

Occurrence

Molds are everywhere in the area. Both in households and in the great outdoors. Molds basically need three factors to grow:

1. humid climate
2. air and
3. organic additives.

These organic additives can be food, wood, fabrics or foams. When these factors come together, the mold has an excellent breeding ground to grow indefinitely. The growth process is accelerated by the supplied heat. At home, these warm, damp rooms are like poorly ventilated bathrooms with shower curtains or fruits and vegetables left in the refrigerator for a long time.

Which foods contain mold allergens?

There are a lot of foods that can contain mold allergens. The food does not have to be obviously moldy for this. Foods affected include rye bread, apples and pome fruits, citrus fruits, cheese, nuts, pistachios and spices, soft fruits (strawberries, grapes), dry bread, dairy products, fats and potatoes. The particularly feared aflatoxins of Aspergillus flavus, which have been proven to be carcinogenic, can be found in nuts, pistachios and spices. In the open environment, molds can be found mainly in forests at warm and humid temperatures, such as those found in can be found on summer days or on autumn days.

Reaction of the human body

With a mold allergy, those affected experience what is known as an immediate reaction. If the affected person inhales mold, proteins with a special structure bind to the intruder. The protein is also known as IgE. A mast cell, which is of decisive importance in the immune reaction, then binds to this 2-part complex. If a mold spore penetrates the organism again after days or weeks, the mast cells can burst. In doing so, they release the messenger substance histamine, which produces the symptoms responsible for the allergic reaction. As a rule, these reactions disappear as quickly as they came. In some cases, the symptoms manifest themselves and require medication.

Also read: These are the symptoms of an allergy!

Cross reaction

In the case of a cross reaction or cross allergy, the immune system reacts not only to the substance causing the allergy, but also to molecules that are biochemically similar to those of the substance.
In the case of a mold allergy, which is often directed against a certain group of molds, similar substances are predominantly other spore-forming fungi. It is therefore quite possible that if you are allergic to a certain mold, you will also react to most other molds, or that it is not possible to differentiate precisely which type of mold is triggering the actual allergic reaction.

Caution is also advised with some antibiotics: the group of penicillins is biochemically derived from a mold. Therefore, drugs that contain penicillin or a related agent such as ampicillin or amoxicillin can cause cross-reactions in people with a mold allergy.

Symptoms

The first symptoms after inhalation of mold spores with the onset of an allergy can be a simple, insignificant, light scratching in the throat, which the patient does not pay attention to. As the disease progresses, the eyes may water and the nose may run. The initially slight scratching in the throat can quickly turn into swelling of the mouth and throat area. It should be noted that the inhaled mold spores can also penetrate directly into the trachea and bronchi, and even into the finest alveoli. Mast cells can also adhere to the bronchi and, when they come into contact with the intruder, send out the histamine, which is undesirable in this case and which then leads to the narrowing of the airways in the lungs.
Depending on the severity of the allergic reaction, the result is moderate to severe shortness of breath, which must be treated immediately in order to avert corresponding life-threatening conditions.

Shortness of breath as the most common symptom

The most common symptom of mold poisoning is shortness of breath, which occurs when the allergy-causing substance (the so-called allergen) gets into the person's airways.

In some milder cases, the patients report less shortness of breath than difficulty breathing. An irritation of the throat and dry cough are often the first symptoms of a minor allergic reaction of the respiratory tract. More serious reactions are then shortness of breath, shortness of breath and asthma. Many patients report having to breathe deeper in to feel like they are getting enough air. Movements and sports activities can no longer be carried out with the familiar ease once the allergic reaction has set in.

Learn more at: Cough if you have an allergy

As a rule, patients do not know whether they have inhaled anything because the molds and their spores are not visible to the human eye. Often, however, reports are made about household cleanings that have taken place in the apartment or house or that a walk in the forest was taken on a warm day.

If there is a shortage of breath, the person concerned should be shielded from contact with the allergen as soon as possible. Since the mold pores are often in the air in affected rooms, a change of location is usually the best short-term solution to alleviate the symptoms.

Symptoms on the skin

Mold can also cause skin reactions. For example, they lead to itching and reddening of the skin, which are often widespread and start to itch heavily. They can also cause eczema or worsen an existing one. Furthermore, wheals or hives can occur. All of these symptoms are not uncommon and can be very uncomfortable for those affected.

For more information, see: Wheals and Hives

Symptoms in the gastrointestinal tract

Gastrointestinal complaints are also occasionally described. These mainly occur after consuming foods with mold allergens. Many different symptoms can arise, such as nausea and vomiting. But also abdominal pain of all kinds, as well as diarrhea and flatulence are common. In general, the symptoms are similar to those of a food allergy.

For more information, see: Food Allergy - These Are The Symptoms!

diagnosis

Diagnosing an allergy to mold is very difficult. Diagnosing the actual allergy is easy, as the symptoms of watery eyes, runny nose, itchy skin and possibly difficult breathing are typical of this body reaction. But what ultimately causes this allergy must first be tried to find out through a detailed medical survey. It is particularly important to ask when and, above all, since when these problems occurred, what environment the patients were in before and what activities they undertook. It should also be asked whether another allergy is already present and whether family members e.g. everyone who lives in the same household is affected by the symptoms. Typical indications of a mold allergy are walks outside in warm, damp weather or cleaning the apartment, shaking up upholstery or mopping up large amounts of dust. Then suddenly there is shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, which the patients complain about, possibly also burning eyes or tears.
Sometimes it is actually described that the son or daughter suddenly suffered from the same symptoms and that there is already a history of neurodermatitis or bronchial asthma or simple hay fever. Many health surveys, however, do not allow such a clear conclusion. Then there is the possibility to carry out an allergy test.

You might also be interested in: Allergy test

Test procedure for diagnosing a mold allergy

There are three different test methods used to diagnose a mold allergy. The first and probably the simplest is the skin test or skin test. The possible allergens (allergy-causing substances) are applied to the skin. After a few days, the adhesive strip through which the allergens entered the body is removed from the skin and an examination is carried out to determine which area of ​​the skin is reddened or changed. This then indicates a corresponding hypersensitivity to this substance at this point. However, this test is not very reliable and a negative reaction does not necessarily mean that there is no allergy.

For more information on this test, see: Prick test

Another option is the provocation test.The allergen is given directly into the airways, for example by nasal spray, and a direct reaction is brought about. This method is much more reliable than the skin prick test, but it is also much more uncomfortable for those affected.

Finally, you can also do a blood test. For this purpose, blood is drawn from the patient and it is checked whether he has formed special antibodies. Antibodies of the IgE class are of particular interest here, as they are often associated with allergies. However, this test is only meaningful in combination with the corresponding complaints of the patient and a positive skin or provocation test, as it is not possible to say exactly which substance triggered the antibody increase.

therapy

The best and most sustainable therapy is to avoid contact with the allergen. In the case of mold, this is less likely to succeed, like house dust, because mold is present everywhere in the area. However, some precautions and precautions can still be taken. This includes regular cleaning of refrigerators and upholstered furniture and frequent ventilation of the closed rooms. Damp rooms, e.g. Bathrooms should be ventilated more often so that a warm, humid environment cannot develop. It is advisable to carry out frequent refrigerator checks and remove suspicious food, put perishable food in the refrigerator and not leave it outside. Forest walks should be avoided on warm, humid days.

If an allergic reaction has already occurred, attempts can be made to combat the symptoms locally. Reddened skin is treated with an antihistamine-containing ointment or eye drops are given to burning or watery eyes. A systemic drug should be used if breathing is difficult. It makes sense to inhale a cortisone preparation in order to reduce the immune system in the lung area, which is responsible for the allergic reaction. In the case of severe breathing problems, a cortisone-fenistil-ranitidine combination should be given as an infusion in order to reduce the entire immune system for this period and to bind the released histamine.

For more information, see: Cortisone preparation

As with all allergies, an attempt can be made to carry out a so-called desensitization for lighter variants. The body is supplied with the allergenic substance and it is hoped that the body will get used to it, which will make the allergic reaction easier when it comes into contact with the antigen again.

homeopathy

There are several homeopathic remedies that can help with mold allergy. Acidium formicicum D12 is recommended for people with asthmatic complaints and itchy eyes. In patients who are more likely to affect the nose, for example from sneezing fits, itching and burning, Sabadilla D6. If the mouth and throat area is affected (clearing the throat, mucus, coughing), Luffa operculata 6X should help best.

Further information on the above You can get homeopathic remedies at: Acidium formicicum, Sabadilla and Luffa operculata

Does desensitization make sense?

Desensitization (or hyposensitization) aims to regularly supply the body with the substance to which it is allergic (i.e. overreacted, so to speak). As a result, this excessive immune reaction gradually weakens, as the immune system “learns” that these molecules are actually not dangerous or harmful to the body.

Desensitization can be done orally or by injection. It should be considered if the person concerned cannot avoid contact with mold spores. Before desinsibilization takes place, an attempt should first be made to avoid the allergen, for example in the household or at work. Desinsibilization can provide long-term improvement in allergic symptoms if avoidance is not possible.

Mold allergy in children

Children in particular are generally more at risk of developing allergies than adults, as their immune systems are not yet fully developed. A mold allergy usually arises when there is mold in the house, especially in the children's room. This can form in potted plants or on cold walls, for example, but also in food. Children are also at an increased risk of developing allergic asthma. The first symptoms in children are usually coughing, nasal congestion, sneezing fits, right up to the development of asthma. The diagnosis of a mold allergy is often not easy because, on the one hand, you cannot always see the fungus directly and many tests can also give incorrect results. If there is a mold allergy, gardening should be avoided and the children should not have potted plants in the room. The allergy in children can be treated with medication. However, since these often make you tired and can lead to difficulties, especially at school, desensitization is usually recommended for children.

Read more about the topic here: Allergies in children

Summary

Mold can be found both in the home and outside. Moist and warm environments are a prerequisite for the growth of mold. Furthermore, there must be organic adhesion surfaces. Badly ventilated bathrooms or forests on warm, humid days are excellent breeding grounds for mold.

The seeds of the mold are called spores and trigger the actual allergic reaction in those affected. To make matters worse, the spores are so small that they can be inhaled unnoticed and so resistant that even high temperatures have little effect on them. If spores have been inhaled, an allergic reaction begins in the body. First, a protein is formed that combines with the foreign body (IgE). A mast cell then attaches itself to this overall complex. If it comes into contact with a mold spore again, the mast cell can burst and release histamine. Histamine triggers a.o. contracting of the bronchi, which can lead to difficulty breathing, the most common symptom of a mold allergy. In order to diagnose a mold allergy, the medical questioning, eye diagnosis, allergy test and blood tests are available. Treatment should be with cortisone, fenistil, ranitidine and avoidance of contact with mold.