The symptoms of mold allergies are similar to those a person may have with other types of allergies that affect the upper-respiratory system. In many cases, a person with this type of allergy will have itchy eyes, a runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing. Likewise, a person may cough in relation to a mold allergy. Some people may even develop itching inside of their ears and throats as a symptom of a mold allergy. Symptoms of this type of allergy can be mild or severe, depending on the individual who is affected.
The mold allergy symptoms typically vary from person to person. Some people develop itchy, watery eyes; a runny nose; sneezing; and coughing when they have mold allergies, while others may develop just one or two of these symptoms. The severity of the mold allergy symptoms may vary from person to person as well. One person may develop severe allergy symptoms that interfere with his ability to enjoy everyday activities, while another may have symptoms that are so mild they are barely noticeable.
In some cases, a person may notice mold allergy symptoms only on a periodic basis, but this isn’t always the case. Sometimes mold allergy symptoms are present throughout the year. In addition, some people with mold allergy symptoms have frequent flareups during a particular season of the year and then are virtually symptom-free the rest of the time. In many cases, people with this type of allergy experience symptom flareups in damp weather. Many notice an increase in symptoms when they are in environments with high mold levels as well.
The most effective treatment for a mold allergy may be avoiding mold, but this can be difficult to accomplish. Instead, many people take allergy medications to prevent and treat symptoms. Allergy medicines come in both prescription and over-the-counter forms. Nasal rinses and immunotherapy, which consists of allergy shots, may prove helpful as well.
For many people, mold allergy symptoms may just be an annoyance; some people, however, may develop more serious symptoms or conditions because of them. Often, people with mold allergies have asthma attacks brought on by exposure to mold. In some cases, such attacks can be severe enough to be life-threatening. Additionally, mold allergies may sometimes lead to a fungal type of sinusitis, which may have to be treated with surgery. A person could even develop inflamed lungs in response to airborne mold spores.
