Found black mold from AC leak; is it causing kids' cough?« Back to Previous Page

My kids have been coughing constantly for the past month and we can't figure out why. I finally pulled our sofa away from the wall in the living room and found a huge patch of black mold spreading from the corner where the AC unit is, probably from a slow leak. I’m really worried about their health. What’s the safest way to clean this and should I take them to a doctor for the coughing?
Posted by Hamad Al-Sayed
Asked on April 10, 2026 12:00 am
Black mold exposure from an AC leak is a likely cause of persistent coughing in children. The high humidity and constant AC use in Dubai create perfect conditions for mold, which releases spores that irritate the airways and can trigger allergic reactions or worsen asthma.

For their health, a doctor's visit is strongly recommended to address the coughing. Inform the doctor about the mold discovery, as this is crucial for diagnosis. In many cases, removing the mold source resolves the respiratory symptoms.

Do not attempt to clean a large patch yourself. Disturbing it will aerosolize a high concentration of spores throughout your home. For a proper remediation, the AC unit must be inspected for the leak's source and repaired first, or the mold will return. The contaminated section of drywall likely needs to be cut out and replaced by a professional team using containment barriers and HEPA filtration to prevent cross-contamination.

The Dubai Municipality has guidelines for indoor air quality, and reputable remediation companies adhere to these standards, providing before-and-after testing to verify the environment is safe. Look for a provider that uses a certified microbiological lab to identify the mold type and confirm its removal. This step is the only way to know the health risk has been fully addressed.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on April 10, 2026 2:34 am