Does anyone have any info on mold and it's effects on a 1 yr old?

Question

My son is almost one and has been sick with a cough or bronchitus for over 4 months now and he's being treated by a doctor. I changed his sheets last night and found mold all through his mattress. I threw it away and put our other mattress on it and he has slept better than he has in months. I am trying to find out if anyone has any info on the effects of mold and if the illness goes away when you get rid of the mold. Also does anyone have any experience with the long term effects it might have on my son?

The mattress was donated by a pregnancy clinic and I bleached it when we got it. I just thought it was a little dirty. I keep his mattress wiht the label side down so it is more comfortable and I never thought to flip it before. I DO change sheets at least once a week and most of the time two or three times a week. I am going to disinfect the rest of the room today and see if it sopread anywhere else.

Answer 1

Mold is not good for anybody. I would call your sons Pediatrician and tell him or her. He might refer you out to an allergist specialist or might tell you to wait and to see how your son is doing now that the mold source is removed. Your son should get better now that the mold has been removed from his environment. I would buy an air purifier and put this into his bedroom. Also, remove the mattress from the home.

Answer 2

how in the heck did it take so long to find the mold ? keep crib sheets clean and mattress clean more than once a week !!! All indoor molds present a potential health risk and should be treated with caution according to the Center for Disease Control. The (EPA) Environmental Protection Agency recommends that any indoor mold growth be addressed immediately and that all water or moisture sources be eliminated.

Some molds have been more closely associated with specific health problems. One example is Stachybotrys atra, a greenish–black mold often referred to as “toxic mold.” It grows on material with high cellulose content (e.g. drywall, wood, paper, dust). Stachybotrys becomes a problem when it emits mycotoxins (poisons) capable of producing toxic effects in humans and animals. Many Aspergillus species of molds also produce mycotoxins.

Some molds release volatile compounds into the air, producing an unpleasant odor. Scientists label these compounds “microbial volatile organic compounds” or “mVOCs” (Moisture Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, Environmental Protection Agency, March 2001). Exposure to mVOCs has been associated with headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.

Aspergillus fumigatus, a well documented allergen, is a common cause of fungal disease in humans and animals causing acute or chronic respiratory tract infections. These fungal balls (masses) were removed with surgery from lungs.

Some people can live in moldy environments for years without experiencing any physical symptoms, while others will have immediate and sometimes severe reactions, similar. Just like someone with animal allergies, the severity of one's reaction depends on how sensitive they are.

Beyond allergic type reactions, mold also has the potential create diseases in people can become chronic with extended exposure.

People who are most likely to contract some form of mold related illness or disease are those with some sort of compromised immune system. For example:

Infants whose immune systems are not fully developed.

The elderly whose immune systems are simply worn out.

Answer 3

Well, it sounds like allergies. He should be fine, as long as you keep him away from mold as much as possible. If it is, in fact allergies, as he gets better, he'll be able to deal with mold better.