What are the Symptoms of Black Mold?

Black mold is a serious and potentially life-threatening household contaminant. The symptoms of black mold vary widely based on the amount of time the occupant is exposed to the mold as well as to underlying medical issues. Determining whether a house is infested with black mold quickly means understanding the symptoms and taking immediate action for the health and safety of the family living with black mold.

Initial symptoms of black mold can be as innocuous as a sore throat, itchy nose and a mild cough. The symptoms of limited black mold exposure are usually confused with hay fever or allergies. Slight skin irritation may occur with red eyes and a mild headache. Many people will blame these symptoms on cold or allergies but as exposure is prolonged, the symptoms will become more serious.

As the time of exposure to black mold is lengthened, the initial symptoms experienced will intensify. Mild headaches can become chronic, an itchy nose may develop into a recurring bloody nose, and the cough will produce bloody or darkened sputum. A sense of fatigue may set in on the occupants of a mold-infested home. Weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, open sores, breathing disorders, swollen glands, ear infections, and dozens of other symptoms may appear with time. Since there are many varieties of black mold, the symptoms will be linked to the specie that is infesting the house.

If these symptoms are ignored or the case of black mold infestation is particularly bad, symptoms may become life-threatening. Symptoms may range from blindness to mental retardation all the way to death. Some studies have indicated there are links between development of cancer to black mold contamination. Black mold is a potentially deadly problem and should be dealt with swiftly.

Although anyone may develop symptoms from black mold, there are groups of individuals which may exhibit symptoms quicker or more severely than a healthy adult. Children are particularly susceptible to black mold. They are generally the first family members to develop symptoms which are often overlooked as allergies or misdiagnosed as asthma. The CDC is currently conducting studies which suggest there is a link between black mold and acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhages in infants. These hemorrhages occur suddenly in otherwise healthy infants and result in admission to a neonatal intensive care unit for intubation.

The chronically ill are another subgroup that are affected strongly by the presence of black mold. People who are on immunosuppressants have been shown to exhibit harsher symptoms, often misdiagnosed as a worsening of their current condition. Pregnant women have also been shown to exhibit stronger symptoms. Some link has also been seen in healthy adults who exercise frequently and intense reaction to black mold. This link is believed to be because humans breath more deeply after aerobic activity.

Understanding the symptoms of black mold is the first step in identifying this dangerous contamination and preventing it from becoming worse. While the sudden development of allergies in a child may be just as it seems, keeping contamination of black mold in mind may save a life.