The presence of molds in your home, or any other environment you spend a considerable amount of time is a major health hazard. For those who are not fully aware, molds are a fungal species that can cause serious health conditions to human beings. If you notice insidious mold growth in your home or business premises, it is most likely that there is high levels of moisture within that environment. The presence of this fungus in your home isn’t something you should take lightly. Make sure you call a removal expert and you visit a certified doctor to undergo testing for mold exposure.
Mold Exposure and/or Poisoning
Mold spores grow abundantly in environments where there is high humidity. This environment includes walls in highly humid structures and also damp materials and wet areas in homes. Living in a home or building that has water damage can expose you to molds, therefore, leading to serious health issues.
The presence of molds in any environment where you have been spending a considerable amount of time should be taken seriously. Those who do not have experience might miss the signs of this harmful fungus. But if you notice musty odor, flaky wallpaper, surface deterioration, discoloration of paint, and water stains on the walls among other clues, it is a high possibility that molds are thriving there. As mentioned earlier, the first thing you should do is contact a specialist to visit the site, run tests, confirm the presence of the fungi, and remove it. After you’ve done that, pay a visit to your doctor for mold exposure testing and possible treatment.
There are several tests that doctors conduct to test for mold exposure. These tests are used to detect the presence of health conditions, such allergies, irritations (to the lungs, eyes, throat, nose, and/or skin of individuals), or mycotoxins (bio toxins) caused by molds that are a threat to human health.
How Testing for Mold Exposure is Done
We can’t emphasis enough the importance of seeing a trained medical doctor when you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above. Regardless of whether or not you are allergic to allergens that might cause such symptoms, the wisest thing to do is to immediately see a doctor.
There are a number of tests your doctor might have to run to diagnose mold exposure or poisoning. Among them, the most recommended are blood and skin tests. Below are more details about these two tests.
Blood Test
In this test, your blood will be tested for the presence of mycotoxins caused by mold poisoning/exposure. The test measures your immune system’s response to the presence of mycotoxins. If a certain number of antibodies (IgE) are present in your bloodstream, then it will indicate the presence of mycotoxins caused by exposure to molds.
Skin Prick Test
In this test, a diluted amount of suspected allergens (molds) are applied on an area of your skin where the doctor has made a small puncture. A positive result for mold allergy or poisoning will be attained if you get a hive or raised bump at the skin puncture location. But if no such observation is made, then you do not have mold poisoning or allergy.
