Could black mold be causing my twins' persistent illness?« Back to Previous Page
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Our twins have been having a runny nose and a weird cough for over a month now, and it won't go away even with allergy medicine. I was cleaning behind their wardrobe in the kids' bedroom and found a patch of black mold on the wall, probably from the AC unit's condensation. We’re in an older building in Bur Dubai. Could this be the cause of their persistent illness, and what’s the best way to handle it safely?
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Black mold on an interior wall from AC condensation is a very plausible cause of your twins' persistent respiratory symptoms. The constant humidity and year-round AC use in Dubai create ideal conditions for mold, and children are often the first to show effects like a stubborn cough and runny nose that don't respond to standard allergy medication.
The first step is to safely contain the area. Avoid disturbing the patch, as this can release spores. Gently wipe the immediate vicinity with a dilute vinegar solution to temporarily suppress surface spores, but this is not a fix. For a hidden patch behind furniture, the wall cavity itself is likely affected, requiring professional remediation to properly remove the contaminated material and address the moisture source—typically an AC drain line issue or insulation leak. Given their prolonged symptoms, a professional inspection is strongly advised. They will identify the full extent of the growth and the root moisture cause. In many cases, a surface clean is insufficient if moisture has penetrated the gypsum board. Dubai Municipality has guidelines for indoor air quality, and reputable remediators will follow protocols to contain the area during removal. Following remediation, consider an IAQ test to confirm spore counts have returned to safe levels. For your children's health, resolving the underlying moisture problem is the only permanent solution to prevent recurrence. |
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