Mold can flourish indoors due to warmth and moisture, releasing spores that can affect your family's health. Unless you schedule mold removal services, these spores can cause respiratory problems, particularly in young children. The following guide explains some ways your little ones may be affected.

Where Can You Find Mold at Home?

Mold is commonly found in warm, sheltered areas, such as basements, kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Mold spores can cause a range of respiratory and immune issues in children, who can inhale them while playing in the basement, using the bathroom in the morning or getting a snack from the fridge.

In your basement, check the perimeter walls or also referred to the exterior walls, in the bathroom, check around your sink, tub, shower, and toilet for evidence of mold. In the kitchen, look inside cabinets, refrigerators, ovens, and other appliances. Mold can also grow inside washing machines and on the walls of your laundry room, so check for leaks that can attract spores.

What Are the Effects of Mold on a Child's Health?

Congestion and Itchiness

Airborne mold spores can irritate the nose and throat and cause the body to release histamines to combat allergens. Histamine release typically results in sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, and itchy noses. A stuffy nose, scratchy throat, and frequent sneezing are also symptoms of common colds, so it’s possible to mistake them for mold allergies. Pay attention to the time of year, as colds and sinus infections are more prevalent during the fall, while mold allergies can flare up when your child is exposed to the spores.

Short-term solutions for these symptoms include over-the-counter antihistamines and cold and flu medicine. While these can offer temporary relief, only mold removal services will eliminate the source of the discomfort and allow your little one to breathe easily.

Respiratory Problems

If symptoms caused by mold exposure aren’t treated quickly, they could develop into permanent respiratory conditions like asthma. Experts have noted a possible link between asthma development and exposure to mold in young children genetically predisposed to the condition. As a result, they may develop severe long-term effects, including shortness of breath, wheezing, and persistent coughing.

If your little one already has asthma, you can protect their health by keeping medication and an inhaler nearby and by scheduling mold removal services as soon as possible.

If you’re concerned about your child’s health, turn to A-1 Mold Testing & Remediation Services in Lincoln, NE. This company provides thorough testing and mold removal services to clients throughout the Midwest, including Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. Their experienced team will quickly identify and treat mold to protect your household. Call (402) 474-6653 to schedule removal services, or visit them online to learn more about how they can help. Trust your family's health to A1 Mold Testing!