Molds are not limited to some species that cause a lot of diseases and food spoilage or to cities. During winter months San Francisco mold inspections are popular to remediate your home from some species even play a crucial role in the manufacture of food, enzyme and antibiotic. However, most of the common molds that we have known and encountered prove to be more harmful than beneficial. Common molds might not have detrimental effects on healthy individuals in general but they pose a lot of complications and an immediate threat to those who already have health problems.
Molds’ Health Effects
Usually, molds cause a wide spectrum of complications to people who have asthma or allergies that includes eye irritation, congestion, rhinorrhea or runny nose, skin rash and asthma aggravation. It also elevates the risk of infections to those who have a very weak immune system or a lung disease. In addition to that, more severe effects can occur such as respiratory dysfunction, excessive nose bleeding, diarrhea, liver damage, fever, fatigue and vomiting. These complications may be short-lived or momentary depending on the frequency or severity of mold exposure. However, some complications are proven to inflict permanent damage.
What molds can produce
Exposure to molds poses another health threat by means of microbial volatile organic compounds or more commonly known as mVOCs which give off unpleasant odors. These mVOCs are immediately unfettered into the air after the process of fungal metabolism undergone by the molds which is why a mold inspection San Francisco profesisonal is needed.. They can cause eye and respiratory system irritation, fatigue, nausea, dizziness and headaches. However, these substances have not been studied and investigated thoroughly and extensively unlike other pathogens so this area of research needs to be explored further.
Molds can also produce mycotoxins which are toxic and noxious secondary metabolites. Severe exposure can cause serious complications such as headaches, eye and respiratory system irritation, nausea, and fatigue.
Mold-related tests
Exposure to molds can be assessed and tested by means of detection of antibodies that are specific to molds. This works because the presence of antibodies serves as an indicator that you have made contact or have been exposed to certain species of molds at some indefinite time.
This test is somewhat insufficient and it can’t indicate the exact time and amount of molds you have been exposed to. Professional mold inspection in San Francisco can save a lot of time and prevention. Consequently, other tests should be done in order to determine if your exposure to molds cause any of your health problems.
Allergy to mold can also be tested. Blood samples and skin may be utilized for this kind of test.
However, tests done on skin have been proven to produce more accurate and precise results than tests done on blood samples. Skin testing has also an additional advantage as it is cheaper and more sensitive than blood testing. Radioallergosorbent, which is a kind of blood test, can be done to monitor and determine the levels of mold-specific antibodies. However, the test is relatively expensive.
After the referral from your family doctor, you should consult specialists depending on the complications that mold exposure caused. Allergists deal with people with an allergy to mold while a pulmonary physician attends to those with lung infections. Mold infections, in general can be referred to an infectious disease physician.