Basics About Mold Illness and Mycotoxicosis

Mold Can Sometimes Cause Mycotoxicosis and Not Just Allergies

Yes, sometimes mold can make people sick.

Do you have symptoms that you can't explain? Do the symptoms get better when you are out of the house? Did it start ever since you moved or smelled mold and mildew? There are many myths about mold related illness. Here is some information about mold related sickness.

These are some facts:

1. There are over 100,000 types of mold and most do not make people sick. However, some are more commonly pathogens (disease causing) than others such as Stachybotrys. Penicillium, Cladosporium, and Aspergillus are commonly found in homes and sometimes cause illness also. All molds are not the same and you can not make any general statements.

2.The 3 reactions possible from a specific pathological type of mold are 1) allergy (nasal congestion, itchy and watery eyes, and sinus problems), 2) infections (A lung infection from Aspergillus is called a "fungal ball". And Stachybotrys is associated with bleeding in the lungs), and 3) toxins (mycotoxins/mycotoxicosis- can cause fatigue, headaches, joint pains, emotional or mood changes, difficulty sleeping, weakness, abdominal pain, urinary frequency, weakened immune system, difficulty concentrating, behavioral problems, diarrhea, etc). The mold smell is related to toxin called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) which can also cause illness. Some mycotoxins are even used in biological warfare like aflatoxin and trichothecenes.

3. Allergy blood testing can not always prove allergy antibodies exist to certain specific molds. Technology is limited and mycotoxins are not measured easily in urine or blood.

4. Not everyone in the same environment has the same reactions to pathogen. The timing of symptom onset can also vary from seconds to a few days. Certain individuals can be a lot more sensitive to mold (about 25 %) compared to others.

5. There are many group and individual case studies that identify certain specific pathological types of mold with certain symptoms. When a patient's specific symptoms fit and greatly improve away from a specific type of pathological mold, then the association is supported.