Black Mold Poisoning Symptoms
Black Mold poisoning can cause only one to two symptoms in some people and many more in other people. Exposure and poisoning related to black mold can cause mild, moderate or severe illness, and sometimes death if left untreated. Black mold grows in moist or humid areas and grows in patches that appear as multiple black spots. There are several symptoms to be aware of that may indicate you have been exposed to black mold and have black mold poisoning. You should visit your physician immediately if you suspect illness from black mold for immediate professional medical attention.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Respiratory Symptoms
Black Mold releases toxic spores into the environment in order to kill off other black molds in the area that are its competition for food and territory. When you breath in these toxic spores, you may experience respiratory symptoms such as congestion, coughing, increased mucous production and shortness of breath.
Nausea and Vomiting
Physical Symptoms of Mold Illness
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Most people will experience nausea and vomiting after exposed to black mold. If you have been exposed to large amounts, or for prolonged periods of time, your nausea and vomiting may continue to get worse.
Rashes
You may develop rashes on your skin after an exposure to black mold. You may have mild or moderate pink and brown skin rashes on any part of your skin. These rashes may itch, although they do not always, and may go away and reappear periodically.
Muscle Pains and Fatigue
How Long Does It Take for a Person to Feel the Effects of Black Mold?
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As the spores enter your body from exposure to black mold, you may start to develop muscle pains and fatigue. This occurs as your immune system attempts to destroy the invaders and re-routes energy to the immune system. You may also experience fever and cold systems with fatigue.
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References
- Amirhosein Ghaffarianhoseini, Husam AlWaer, Hossein Omrany, Ali Ghaffarianhoseini, Chaham Alalouch, Derek Clements-Croome & John Tookey (2018) Sick building syndrome: are we doing enough?. Architectural Science Review,61:3, 99-121.
- American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Mold Allergy. Reviewed April 23, 2018.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fungal Diseases. Reviewed May 6, 2019.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mold. Basic Facts. Reviewed December 20, 2017
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Mold Allergy. Reviewed October 2015.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Molds in the Environment. Rreviewed December 20, 2017.
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Mold Allergy
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mold, Basic Facts
- Rudert A, Portnoy J.Mold allergy: is it real and what do we do about it?Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2017 Aug;13(8):823-835. doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2017.1324298. Epub 2017 May 17.
Writer Bio
Iva Gutowski is a practicing nurse with health care experience since 2001. She has worked in the hospital setting on medical/surgical floors and critical care units. She has been a writer since 1999. Her experience includes articles for "The Asheville Citizen-Times," "The McDowell News," and "The Old Fort News." Gutowski holds a License Practical Nursing degree from McDowell Technical Community College