There are about 1,000 types of mold that are commonly found in American homes. Most molds will not make everyone sick, but some varieties such as toxic molds, can make people sick even if they are in the best of health. People who are allergic or otherwise sensitive to mold and those who are otherwise not very healthy are more susceptible to mold and the symptoms mold can cause.

People who are taking immunosuppressants or who have a compromised immune system need to be particularly wary of mold. Many molds can cause upper respiratory problems or worse for these individuals, so it is important that individuals on immunosuppressants and their caretakers are informed about the dangers of mold.

There are three major categories of mold: Allergenic Molds, Pathogenic Molds, and Toxigenic Molds. Molds from all three of these categories can cause problems for immunosuppressed individuals that can be simply mild irritation all the way to a potentially deadly illness.

Allergenic Molds

Allergenic Molds are the most common molds and generally the least sensitive. These molds usually affect those with asthma or mold allergies, leading to irritation to the eyes and nasal passages, sore throats, runny nose, congestion, and rashes. Individuals who are immunosuppressed and already have these sensitivities may find that their reaction to these molds more severe.

Pathogenic Molds

Pathogenic molds are more problematic in terms of health concerns than allergenic molds. These molds are known to produce disease, but otherwise healthy people could quite well fall ill due to pathogenic mold. These molds are particularly problematic for immunosuppressed individuals. Very severe health problems can result if you are exposed to pathogenic molds and have compromised immune systems either due to immunosuppressant drugs or an underlying illness. Respiratory illnesses and infections such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis can be caused by pathogenic molds.

Toxigenic Molds

Toxigenic molds belong to the most dangerous of the three categories of molds. These produce mycotoxins which are harmful and capable of causing great health problems even in people who are otherwise in very good health. When one is exposed to mycotoxins, which can be carcinogenic, a wide range of reactions can occur. The least of these would be minor irritations that are similar to allergy symptoms, but conditions as extreme as cancer have been linked to exposure to toxigenic molds. Anyone who is exposed to toxigenic molds should seek medical attention, even if no symptoms are present.

Immunosuppressed individuals are at higher risk for contracting illness from exposure to mycotoxins. In addition, these individuals are more likely to experience extreme symptoms and an increased severe illness than an otherwise healthy person might from the same exposure. These diseases may also exasperate an underlying condition, another reason why toxigenic molds can be so dangerous to those on immunosuppressants.

Conclusion

Mold can be dangerous for everyone, but those on immunosuppressants or with otherwise compromised immune systems are at a much higher risk for getting incredibly sick due to mold exposure. Molds should always be cleaned up as soon as it is discovered, and the sources of mold should be taken care of, but if there is a person in the home on immunosuppressant drugs or with a compromised immune system, this is of paramount importance.