Can Mold Cause Childhood Asthma?

More than 6 million children in the United States have asthma, and they suffer its effects every day. Asthma can make it difficult for kids to participate in sports or enjoy physical activities like swimming or riding a bike. But did you know that exposure to mold could be making your child’s asthma symptoms worse than they should be? There’s a direct connection between mold and childhood asthma, so if they’re reaching for an inhaler a little too often, you might want to get your home inspected for mold.

The Link Between Mold and Asthma

Mold spores are an air pollutant that directly affects the respiratory system. And if you have asthma, mold exposure will make your symptoms even worse. Breathing in mold spores can even trigger an asthma attack.

Because mold spores are airborne, they can complicate many respiratory illnesses, including asthma. Mold spores can restrict your ability to breathe and even damage your lungs, especially if you are allergic to them.  

Mold Allergies and Asthma

About 25% of people are allergic to mold, but it affects everyone differently—even members of the same family. You might be completely immune to mold spores, while one of your children is highly allergic. 

One of the most common allergenic molds is Aspergillus fumigatus, a filamentous fungus that can cause bronchiectasis in people with severe asthma. This disease damages the air passages into the lungs, making breathing even more difficult.

Your doctor can order an aspergillosis precipitin test to find out if your child is allergic to aspergillus mold. If the test is positive, you should schedule a mold inspection to check for signs of an aspergillus infestation in your home.

Mold Exposure and Children

Even though indoor mold has been directly linked to childhood asthma, mold can be difficult to detect. You can’t always see it or smell it, which makes it very dangerous. If there was ever any flooding or water damage to your home, a mold inspection should be your next move.

Mold exposure significantly increases the chances that kids will get asthma. One study showed that 24% of babies who were exposed to mold from water damage had developed asthma by the age of seven. 

The length of time that children are exposed to mold and the quantity of mold spores in the air both impact their risks. In fact, studies show that the higher the moldiness factor inside a home, the higher the risk of childhood asthma. So the sooner you seek mold remediation, the better. 

Mold Remediation Can Help

Getting rid of the mold that’s triggering their asthma will give your child better health. Mold remediation has been proven to reduce asthma symptoms and improve indoor air quality. 

Mold spores are an air pollutant, just like smog, pollen, dust, pet dander, and other airborne allergens. The trouble with mold is that it grows and spreads, polluting your indoor air with even more spores. And mold can grow anywhere—including your HVAC ducts. 

Safe, Effective Mold Removal in San Francisco

If one of your children has asthma, My Pure Environment can help you both breathe easier. Our patented dry fog method fights mold on the molecular level and kills mold spores on contact. The tiny particles in the dry fog can penetrate porous surfaces like wood and drywall, and reach even the most hidden places.

Best of all, it’s safe for your family and won’t cause any damage to your home. You won’t have to worry about harsh chemicals, demolition, or messy cleanup. Dry fog mold remediation only takes a few hours, but it’s so effective that we can guarantee your home will be mold-free for the next 365 days.  

Call us at 415-687-5374 to request a free mold inspection in the Bay Area today.

Photo by Vitolda Klein on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 5/5/2023.