Mold Harms babies -- Mold may lead to Croup in infants.
The following article is from the North Carolina Dept of Health & Human
Services:
Health Effects of Indoor Mold:
Exposure to mold can occur when airborne mold cells, mostly spores, are inhaled. We breathe in these
cells every day, indoors and out. Usually these exposures do not present a health risk. But when
exposure is great, some individuals, particularly those with allergies and asthma, can experience illness
that could be mild to serious or anywhere in between. The following is a description of the health
problems that can be caused by exposure to mold.
Allergic Illness
When mold cells are inhaled and land in the respiratory tract, the body's immune system's response to
those invading cells can cause allergic illness. The immune system tries to destroy the mold as it would
an agent, like a flu virus, that might cause infection. In a relatively small portion of the population (about
10 percent of people in the U.S.), the immune system overreacts and causes the allergic response that
results in symptoms such as runny nose, scratchy throat and sneezing. Most of us know this allergic
illness as "hay fever" or "allergic rhinitis."
Asthma
Asthma is a lung disease in which the airways that carry oxygen to the lungs can partially close, causing
breathing difficulties ranging from mild (such as a dry cough) to life-threatening (inability to breathe).
North Carolina is in the midst of what is being called a world-wide asthma epidemic. A recent survey of
North Carolina middle school children revealed that 10 percent had been diagnosed with asthma and
another 17 percent had asthma symptoms that had never been diagnosed. More than half of asthmatics
have respiratory allergies, often to mold. Molds can trigger asthma episodes in sensitive asthmatics.
Infection
Some mold species can cause respiratory infection when the live mold invades the tissues of the lungs or
respiratory tract. This is not a significant risk for healthy people, but can be dangerous for individuals with
severely weakened immune systems.
Toxic Effects
Very large doses of certain molds, whether inhaled or ingested, can result in poisoning caused by toxins,
called mycotoxins, in the mold cells.
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