Most people have heard of hay fever and hives. And who doesn’t cough? So let’s start with the medical names for some common symptoms of allergies. It’ll help you decode the information that comes with any allergy medication.

• Allergic rhinitis: A blocked or runny nose, plus sneezing. Seasonal allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is linked to outdoor allergens such as pollen. Perennial allergic rhinitis means symptoms can be year-round. They happen indoors from allergens such as dust mites.

You may come across mold every day, everywhere you go, both indoors and out. Most of the time you won’t even know it’s in the air. Until it gives you an itchy throat, runny nose, watery eyes and other mold allergy symptoms. Let’s find out how to recognize the telltale signs – and how to manage allergic reactions to mold.

Breathing in mold allergens often triggers the allergic reaction. As with other respiratory allergies, many symptoms affect your nose and airways. You may feel it straight away or there could be a delay. For instance, nasal congestion and breathing problems can build up over time.

• Hay fever symptoms: a runny or stuffy nose, post-nasal drip and sneezing. Also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis
• Eye irritation: On the surface and inside your eyelids giving you red, watery, itchy eyes
• Lower respiratory symptoms: a cough, shortness of breath, tight chest and wheezing
• Skin reactions: Dry patches, eczema (atopic dermatitis)

Symptoms include a cough, chest tightness, aches and chills, tiredness and losing weight. Humidifiers, heaters and central air-conditioning  can also cause HP by spreading mold spores. There’s even a report of HP traced to a steamy sauna. 

Some rare conditions involve both allergic and an inflammatory response to exposure to mold. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis can cause severe breathing problems. Allergic fungal sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses. 

Eating certain foods can cause mild local symptoms if you have mold allergies. This is a cross-reaction known as oral allergy syndrome (OAS) or pollen food syndrome (PFS). Foods linked to mold include: 

It’s the mold spores. These self-contained seeds are even tinier than pollen grains. The mold releases them to float through the air looking for a damp spot to grow in. It’s just that sometimes you breathe them in instead. That can trigger mold allergy symptoms if your immune system decides the spores are a threat.

      1. Outdoor conditions: You may already know to avoid damp woodland and piles of autumn leaves. Also the countryside during harvest. But it’s also a good idea to wear a dust mask in the garden during mold allergy season. Ideally, you’d get someone else to mow the lawn, as well as turn and spread your garden compost. Certain molds love it.

    2. Raising the indoor mold count without realizing: Coats and shoes can trap spores when mold counts are high. So quarantine them by the door. Rub pets down with an old towel. Other carriers of mold spores include damp logs brought in for the fire.

    3. A long DIY to-do list: Leaky roofs and rain gutters can create the ideal conditions for mold growth. Regularly clear out your gutters to drain standing water and fix any roof or plumbing issues. Clear flood damage too. Excessive moisture encourages rot.

    4. Hidden mold growth: Clean mold from neglected areas such as behind kitchen cupboards and around window frames and fridge seals where they trap mold spores. Fridge condensation coils too if you can get to them. Keep houseplant numbers to a minimum and change the soil regularly to stop mold growing freely.

    5. Poor ventilation: Cooking, washing and cleaning all make hot damp air. This can add to the humidity mold spores love. Close internal doors to stop it spreading round your home and use exhaust fans to vent excess moisture. Open windows when the mold count is likely to be low.

Get a hygrometer to measure indoor humidity levels and aim for 30% to 45%. Lowering humidity with a dehumidifier can slow mold growth which may lessen symptoms of mold allergy.

After taking your medical history your healthcare provider may recommend a skin prick or blood test to help make a diagnosis. Tests can’t tell you when or where you were exposed to mold, which is why an allergy diary could be useful.

Antihistamines, corticosteroids and decongestants are usually the go-to treatments for mold allergy symptoms. All are available over the counter and come in either topical (nasal spray, eye drops) or oral (tablets, liquid) form.

Antihistamine blocks the chemical (histamine) that causes many of your mold allergy symptoms. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation by copying hormones made by your body. And decongestants reduce swelling in your nose to help you to breathe better.

These options may only give temporary relief. If you find they aren’t effective enough your healthcare provider may prescribe stronger allergy medicine. Talk to them first before giving a child symptom relieving medications.

After taking your medical history your healthcare provider may recommend a skin prick or blood test to help make a diagnosis. Tests can’t tell you when or where you were exposed to mold, which is why an allergy diary could be useful.

Antihistamines, corticosteroids and decongestants are usually the go-to treatments for mold allergy symptoms. All are available over the counter and come in either topical (nasal spray, eye drops) or oral (tablets, liquid) form.

Antihistamine blocks the chemical (histamine) that causes many of your mold allergy symptoms. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation by copying hormones made by your body. And decongestants reduce swelling in your nose to help you to breathe better.

These options may only give temporary relief. If you find they aren’t effective enough your healthcare provider may prescribe stronger allergy medicine. Talk to them first before giving a child symptom relieving medications.

Immunotherapy is a treatment that can provide long-term relief from some mold allergies. Tiny doses of your trigger, repeated regularly over three to five years, can change the way your immune system reacts. The goal is to stop your mold allergy symptoms bothering you as much as possible.

Interested in learning more about mold allergy immunotherapy and whether it might be suitable for you? Try our Find a Doctor.