Most babies encounter a case of the common cold, a headache, runny nose, etc. It’s perfectly normal! You take your baby to a doctor, get some meds and everything gets better. However, when do these common cold symptoms go from normal to scary? Consistency. If the prescribed medicine from the doctor does not work, you will begin to raise your eyebrows. What if the symptoms begin to worsen? I’m sure that many questions and concerns will come to mind. And you should be concerned because this could be a mold problem. And as I’m sure you know, mold and babies do not make a good combination.
Mold and Babies
Mold is a very sneaky form of life. It’s the king of hide-and-seek in our world. If you were to go play in the snow without a coat on, you are likely to catch a cold. When your cold symptoms reveal themselves, you have a pretty good idea where it came from. Mold illnesses are different. The exposure symptoms in babies disguise themselves as other conditions so well that it’s almost impossible to connect the dots without a professional. However, even though both mold and babies love to play, it doesn’t mean that they should play together.
The Science Behind Mold and Babies
Babies immune systems are still growing so they are much more susceptible illnesses. A baby is an easy target! In fact, Vicki Lankarge, author of What Every Homeowner Needs to Know About Mold (And What to Do About It), reported 45 infant exposure cases in Ohio since 1994 and 16 of these infants died. That’s a 36% mortality rate. Why is this stuff so dangerous to babies? Well, when a baby breathes in mycotoxins(a toxic substance produced by a fungus), the blood vessels in the baby’s lungs are weakened, pulmonary hemorrhaging is possible, and even a possibility of bleeding inside of the baby’s lungs.
Side note: If a baby has consistent exposure to both mold and cigarettes, the chances of pulmonary hemorrhaging increases even more.
When a baby survives a major condition due to mold, it is likely to follow him/her for a lifetime. The Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology once published a study which surrounded the subject of mold and asthma. According to the study, infant exposure has not yet had a direct link to asthma later on in life. However, it does suggest that there is link between consistent exposure and the development of chronic inflammation of the lung airways. Chronic inflammation causes wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. I won’t go too far into detail here since we’ve recently established a list of moldy conditions that can possibly affect your life forever.
What To Do if You Have a Baby Exposed to Mold
The first thing that you should do is get your baby out of the home immediately. Go to a family member’s home, a hotel etc. But if you suspect a contamination problem in your home, it’s imperative that you separate your baby from the situation as soon as possible. This can be the difference between your baby growing up healthy and your baby growing up with a load of health issues. Oh, and let’s not forget about the 36% mortality rate in Ohio.
After getting out of the home, you should schedule an appointment with a team of experts. If you only suspect active growth, ask for a mold inspection, but if you’re 100% sure that you have active growth in your home, let the experts know that you need a mold remediation. I would also advise that everyone living in the home to go see a doctor. A doctor that knows about the connection between mold and babies would be ideal. Do this as soon as possible to take action on any possible health effects.
Most families report that they feel so much better once the remediation process has been completed. If you have active growth in your home, please don’t waste anymore time. Mold has been connected to many health issues, and even death, for people of all ages. This is not just an issue between mold and babies, but for anyone, any age.
