Mold in Dubai apartment making child sick: doctor first?« Back to Previous Page

Our apartment in Discovery Gardens has had a lingering damp smell ever since the heavy fog season started a couple of months ago. I’ve just pulled out the kids' winter clothes from the storage cupboard under the window and found several sweaters with fuzzy black and green spots on them. My youngest has been having a persistent runny nose and a cough that just won’t go away, and I’m really worried it’s connected. Should I take him to a doctor here in Dubai for a specific test, or is getting the mold cleaned up the first priority?
Posted by Sarah Jones
Asked on May 1, 2026 9:05 pm
Given the symptoms and the visible mold, a doctor's visit should be your immediate first step. A pediatrician can assess your child for potential mold-related illnesses, which often present as persistent allergic rhinitis or exacerbate asthma. They can rule out other common causes and provide necessary treatment to relieve his symptoms. Documenting a doctor's visit is also important for any future communication with your building management.

Concurrently, you must address the source. The damp smell and mold on clothes in a storage cupboard are clear signs of a moisture issue, likely from condensation or a minor leak. Discovery Gardens is particularly prone to high humidity, and the recent fog season creates perfect conditions for mold growth in poorly ventilated spaces. Isolate the affected clothing by sealing it in plastic bags to prevent further spore dispersal.

For a situation involving a child's health, a professional inspection is strongly recommended over a DIY approach. An expert can use moisture meters and thermal imaging to find the hidden moisture source that you cannot see, which is critical for a permanent fix. They can also take air and surface samples for lab analysis to identify the mold species, which informs the remediation strategy and provides a baseline to measure the cleanup's effectiveness. Simply wiping visible spots often misses the root cause, leading to rapid regrowth.

The remediation priority is to stop the moisture source, then properly remove the contaminated materials. After remediation, request post-cleanup verification testing to confirm the spore count in the area has returned to safe levels. This lab-verified approach is the standard for resolving health-related cases.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on May 2, 2026 1:50 pm