Mold and The Immune Compromised

Mold and the immune compromised population involve certain precautions and health risks that are not present in the population of people who have strong and healthy immune systems. Mold can pose health risks, depending on the type of mold present, how much mold is in the area, and the strength of the person’s immune system. If you have an immune system which is strong, and you are a healthy adult, problems with mold causing serious health issues are rare and do not occur often. If you have an immune system that has been weakened, or is not fully developed yet, then mold can pose a much greater health hazard, especially if the mold involved excretes toxins.

If you have any immunity issues, you should avoid any areas that have mold contamination. Babies and small children face higher risks, because their immune systems are not fully developed and therefore can not fight off any mold infections and other medical problems. The elderly may also be at a higher risk for medical conditions caused by exposure to certain molds. Even molds that may not be harmful under most circumstances can be harmful for anyone who is immune compromised. If you have had surgery, received chemotherapy or radiation treatments for cancer recently, have any autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, are very young or very old, have HIV or AIDS, or have any problems at all with your immune system, extreme caution should be used to ensure that no mold infections or toxins are present to worsen already existing ailments.

Anyone who is immune compromised should especially use caution around toxic molds. These molds excrete a toxin that can be harmful to humans when ingested, inhaled, or touched with the skin. These molds can be a serious health risk even for healthy individuals with good immune systems, and they can prove severe or even deadly for anyone who does not have a good immune system. Certain molds not only release toxins that can cause detrimental health effects, in a person who has a lowered immune response, mold can actually grow in the body and internal organs, as well as on the surface of the skin. This is different than the problems caused by mold toxins, because mold and fungal infections can be very hard to eliminate once they occur. These infections can occur on your eyes, on your skin, in your lungs, and in other areas of your body, and these infections can cause serious problems including organ failure, respiratory distress, irritation and inflammation. In individuals who have a weak immune system, the kidneys and liver may not be effective in removing the mold and fighting the infection, causing stress on these organs and eventually causing them to fail.

Mold and the immune compromised require special precautions in addition to the usual care needed to detect and eliminate mold. Individuals who are immune compromised should not even be in the vicinity of any mold remediation project, and mold testing and home mold inspections should be done more frequently, to detect even small mold contamination problems. If toxic molds are discovered in the home, anyone with a compromised or weakened immune system should immediately leave the home, and stay away until the mold is completely cleaned up and removed. Mold testing should be performed after the mold remediation is complete as well, to ensure that the mold levels in the home are comparable with the mold levels outside the home. Only after it is completely safe to do so, should anyone who is at a higher risk for mold problems and complications go back into the home.

One way to prevent mold health problems in anyone who has a higher risk and a lower immune system is to perform home mold testing, and have a certified home mold inspection done by a qualified inspector. One company that can do this is Olympian. This company is one of the best when it comes to accurate results of mold testing and certified mold inspections which are thorough and reliable. Olympian will give you the peace of mind you want and need, especially if you or a loved one has a compromised immune system. Home mold testing and home mold inspections can help you discover any mold contamination in your home before the problem worsens and pose an increased health risk for many people, including those who suffer from lowered immunities.

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