Oct 21, 2003
Soon after identical twins Diana and Dawn Meier moved into the same
apartment building, they developed breathing problems.
"She had been complaining of a lot of sinus problems when she moved to
the apartment. She had been there about a year before I did. And so I
started getting like my nose running,” says Diana.
Their symptoms got worse. And the antibiotics doctors prescribed didn't
help. Then the sisters found out they were sensitive to household mold.
When airborne, microscopic mold spores can wreak havoc in sensitive
people. Researchers in one study found fungus in over 90 percent of
chronic sinusitis patients.
"They end up inhaling it into their sinus cavities and then it just
breeds," says Jordan S. Josephson, M.D.
Sinus expert Jordan Josephson says most sinus infections are bacterial
and fungal. Antibiotics treat only bacterial infections, so patients may
also need anti-fungal drugs. "Each person really needs to be evaluated
by their ear, nose, and throat physician or their sinus specialist so
that they can figure out which is the proper combination of agents to
use."
While doctors treat your sinuses, you need to attack your mold problem.
You can start by washing off the fungus with bleach and water.
"If a person's home has uncontrolled moisture, water leaks, etc, that
needs to be fixed," says Philip Harber, M.D.
Harber specializes in occupational medicine and is a mold expert. "Where
there's a very extensive growth, it's sometimes useful to look for
advice at the EPA website or to call a professional."
You can hire a trained dog to sniff out hidden mold for about 500
dollars. The clean-up and repairs are left to you.
Or look in the phone book for a "mold remediator" who will do the entire
job for you. It can cost a pretty penny. And your homeowners insurance
may not pay up.
But it's your health that could be at stake. "I really didn't think I'd
become disabled from something I couldn't see that was in my apartment,"
says Diana.
Homeowners insurance may pay mold damage due to something like a busted
pipe. However, it is not likely you'll get financial help if the mold
has been allowed to grow and cause major problems.