Is hidden mold causing our family's health issues?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, the hidden mold behind the chest is very likely causing your family's symptoms. The dampness from the February rains created ideal conditions for mold growth, which thrives in the UAE's high humidity. Stuffy noses, itchy eyes, and persistent coughs in a toddler are common reactions to mold spore exposure, especially in confined spaces like a bedroom.

Do not attempt to clean a large patch yourself, as disturbing it will release a massive amount of spores into the air, potentially worsening your health issues and contaminating other areas. For a situation of this scale, a professional inspection is strongly advised. They will identify the full extent of the growth, including inside wall cavities, and determine the moisture source that must be fixed to prevent recurrence.

The safest approach involves containment, professional removal of affected materials, and addressing the underlying dampness, which is often due to capillary rising damp in villa ground floors or condensation from AC systems. A reputable service will use HEPA filtration to prevent cross-contamination during remediation. Following cleanup, a post-remediation verification test, ideally from an independent lab, is the only way to confirm the spore count in the air has returned to a safe level.