Respiratory Issues from Mold Exposure
One type of mold that affects the respiratory system is the Aspergillosis Fumigatus mold. When you breathe in Aspergillosis spores, you can develop an infection that causes coughing, wheezing, chest pain, and a fever. If your immune system is healthy, you may not feel any effects from Aspergillus exposure. Though, people with chronic lung problems or weakened immune systems are more susceptible.
Pulmonary Aspergillosis develops in people who have damaged lungs or lung disorders. These conditions create abnormal spaces in the lungs where fungus can grow. Mold spores can colonize inside lung cavities that exist due to diseases like emphysema and tuberculosis.
When the mold infection travels through the bloodstream, other organs can be infected, such as the brain, skin, kidneys, and liver. This is an extremely serious condition and can be fatal.
Up to ten percent of the population has had an allergic reaction to Aspergillosis. This is called Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA). As a result, the lungs and air passages become inflamed. Symptoms are similar to those with cystic fibrosis or asthma. People experience coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
Other symptoms of Aspergillosis include chills, shortness of breath, liver or kidney failure, and shock. Severe cases can include bleeding from the lungs, coughing blood, worsening of asthma, and increased mucus secretions.
