Expert: Ask Suz - 2/6/2008

Question
Since I began my new job 3 months ago, I have experienced sinus-related issues. My sinus' were inflammed, and my Dr. put me through 2 rounds of antibiotics that had no effect.  With the sinus issue, I have experienced a tingling sensation on one side of my face and along my eyebrows. I also experience what my Dr. says is cluster headaches. My symptoms get better and then get worse. I really cannot find a pattern to them. Yesterday in my office, green mold was discovered. We don't know yet how bad the issue is. My Dr. says my cluster headaches are not related. I believe they are since all of my symptoms began at the same time. I want to know if my symptoms are a cause of the mold exposure, and I can reverse the effects it has on my body, as well as help my body as I continue to go to work until the problem is resolved.

Answer
Hi, Tayler
I haven't read much about green mold; only black mold which can kill.
A friend's son went off to college and became extremely ill. He couldn't get out of bed. They didn't know what was wrong with him.
But his mom did. His bathroom was full of black mold. She transferred him and he got well quickly.
Your doctor is doing what he knows how to do: treat the symptoms, not the cause. He is not able to take care of the cause, however, so this is all he can do. But you put your body right back in the same environment and it could get worse. There are lawsuits going on as we speak from managers and owners not eradicating mold. You have to call in a professional. Green mold is a fungus and it needs a fungicide done by experienced personnel.

Exposure to mold has several symptoms including:

A skin rash:
Although you may think that the skin can only become inflamed by direct contact with the mold this isn’t always the case. You can develop redness in your skin simply from inhaling the fumes from the mold.

Eye irritation:
Mold can cause both redness and watering of the eyes. During the spring months, many people associate this with seasonal allergies when in actuality the cause is the mold within their home or office.

Headaches:
Breathing in mold can cause headaches in some people. This is especially true of people who suffer with migraines. They are very sensitive to certain stimulants and mold can be one of them.

Feeling tired:
Feeling tired for several days in a row, even when you are getting adequate sleep can be a symptom of mold exposure.

Sore throat:
Experiencing a raw feeling when swallowing, or hoarseness when speaking, are both indicative of mold exposure. Spores can become lodged in the throat and irritate the sensitive membranes.

Shortness of breath:
Breathing in mold spores can cause respiratory difficulties in some people. This is especially prevalent in those with allergies.

They may even develop asthma or may have asthma and not realize that their asthma attacks are being trigged by the mold in their homes.

Runny nose or sinuses:
If you are constantly reaching for a tissue to catch your runny nose this can also be a strong symptom of mold exposure. This can be triggered either by an allergy to the mold spores or the membranes of the nose become irritated by the spores.

In either case, you may again misdiagnose yourself as having a head cold or seasonal allergies, but if the runny nose persists, consider that the source may indeed be mold.

Bleeding nose:
Although this symptom is rare, it does occur. Some people are more sensitive to certain allergens and those offending irritants cause severe reactions.

One of these reactions can be damage to the membranes of the nose resulting in regular bleeding. If this is happening to you, it can be caused by mold within your home.

I'm afraid that the only thing that will stop your symptoms is to wear a mask of some sort or to quit your job if the boss puts off calling in professional mold eradicators. This could become much more serious and I do hope you are able to make the right decision.

If you have more questions, feel free to ask. Thanks, Suz