Is mold causing my family's constant coughing and sneezing?« Back to Previous Page
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My kids have been coughing and sneezing nonstop for the last month, and I just found a bunch of black spots behind our bedroom wardrobe in our Jumeirah Park villa. We keep the AC running all the time, but the room still feels damp. Could this mold be making my family sick, and what's the first thing I should do to deal with it properly?
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Yes, the mold you've found is very likely contributing to your family's persistent coughing and sneezing. In Dubai's climate, where we rely on constant AC, indoor environments are prone to condensation that fuels mold growth. The damp feeling in the room, despite the AC running, is a classic sign of high relative humidity—a primary cause. The black spots behind the wardrobe are a clear visual confirmation of a problem.
The first step is to stop the moisture source. Move the wardrobe away from the wall to allow air circulation and dry the area thoroughly. For a small patch (less than one square meter), you can carefully clean it with a microfiber cloth and a solution of detergent and water, wearing an N95 mask and gloves. Do not attempt to clean it if it's larger, as this can aerosolize spores and worsen the problem. However, given the symptoms have persisted for a month and the room feels damp, a professional inspection is strongly recommended. Visible mold is often just the tip of the iceberg; it can be growing within the wall cavity or in the AC unit itself, which would continuously recirculate spores. A proper assessment includes moisture mapping and often air or surface sampling sent to a microbiology lab to identify the species, which determines the appropriate remediation strategy and confirms the health risk. This is crucial for resolving the issue completely and ensuring your family's health. |
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