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Indoor molds may cause sinus
problems
By: Medstar
http://news9sanantonio.com
October 25, 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," Diana Meier said. "She
had been there about a year before I did. And so I started getting like my
nose running."
Their symptoms got worse. 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," nasal and sinus specialist Jordan
S. Josephson, MD, said.
Josephson said some 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," Josephson said.
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," occupational medicine
specialist Philip Harber, MD, said.
Harber is a mold expert.
"Where there's a very extensive
growth, it's sometimes useful to look for advice at the EPA Web site or to
call a professional," Harber said.
You can hire a trained dog to sniff
out hidden mold for about $500. 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.
Your homeowners insurance may not pay up.
However, as the Meier twins found
out, 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," Diana Meier said.
Do-It-Best-Yourself Mold Solutions
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3. Get FREE mold advice, mold help, and/or
answers to your mold questions, by emailing mold expert Phillip
Fry at
envirodangers@yahoo.com.
You can also email pictures of your mold problems
in jpeg file format as email attachments. |
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