Could mold in wardrobe be causing my kids' cough?« Back to Previous Page

It's very possible the mold is contributing to their coughs. In Dubai's humid climate, especially in older Bur Dubai buildings, wardrobes on exterior walls are prone to condensation and mold growth. The most common types found in these conditions, like Cladosporium or Aspergillus, are respiratory irritants that can cause persistent coughing, congestion, and worsened allergy symptoms, particularly in children.

For your immediate situation, do not attempt to clean it yourself with bleach or by brushing it off. Disturbing the mold will release a large number of spores into the air, which can make the coughing much worse. The safest first step is to isolate the room: keep the door closed, avoid using that AC unit, and do not enter without a well-fitted N95 mask.

The damp feeling indicates a persistent moisture issue that must be addressed, or the mold will return. This is often due to a combination of high humidity, lack of ventilation, and thermal bridging in the building's walls. Simply cleaning the visible mold is not a solution.

For a case like this with health symptoms already present, a professional inspection is strongly recommended. They can identify the exact mold species through lab analysis to understand the health risk and pinpoint the moisture source. Remediation should be handled by a certified company that uses containment barriers and HEPA air scrubbers to prevent cross-contamination while the affected materials are safely removed. After remediation, the underlying cause—likely poor ventilation or insulation—must be fixed to prevent recurrence.