Mold Spores & Health Risks in Children

Mold spores have been known to have adverse effects on humans. These effects are often more pronounced in children and can develop into permanent ailments. Because children have developing immune systems, mold spores can cause severe symptoms and wreak havoc on a young body.

Increased Allergies

• Mold spores are allergens for many children, causing respiratory problems and skin and eye irritation. Mold can also increase a child's susceptibility to other allergens. Mold exposure early in the child's life may be responsible for food, pet and dust allergies later on in life, according to the University of Cincinnati.

Respiratory Symptoms

• When mold spores enter the lungs, a child with asthma may have an asthma attack. Even children without asthma can experience respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing. These symptoms are caused by an allergic reaction to the spores or by irritation in the lungs caused by the inhaled spores.

Hypersensitivity

• Some people are naturally hypersensitive to mold spores. Their reactions to the spores are more severe than others' reactions. Instead of wheezing, hypersensitive children may develop pneumonia. Their airways may swell and close, and their asthma attacks may require hospitalization. Children with compromised immune systems due to illness or medical treatments also exhibit hypersensitivity to mold spores.

Severe Reactions

• Continuous exposure to mold can cause permanent damage to the body. This damage includes chronic lung diseases and mold infections in the lungs. These conditions are less likely to appear in children; they're seen more often in adults who live and work around mold continuously. Children who live in homes that are infested with toxic mold, in particular, can experience severe, and sometimes even fatal, respiratory symptoms.