Could black mold be causing our respiratory issues?« Back to Previous Page

My kids have been coughing non-stop for the past month and my husband keeps waking up with a stuffy nose. We just pulled our sofa away from the wall in our Deira apartment and found a huge patch of black mold hidden behind it, probably from a slow AC leak. I'm terrified this is making us sick. Could this mold be the cause of our respiratory issues and how urgent is it to see a doctor?
Posted by Marco Janssen
Asked on April 25, 2026 6:10 am
Yes, the black mold you found is very likely the cause of your family's persistent respiratory issues. The constant coughing and stuffy nose are classic symptoms of mold exposure, which acts as a powerful irritant to the respiratory tract. This is especially common in Dubai, where high humidity and year-round AC use create perfect conditions for mold growth. Condensation from AC units often leaks into walls and behind furniture, hidden from view until it becomes a major problem.

Given the symptoms and the visible patch, this situation requires prompt action. For your children's health, a visit to a doctor is advisable to address their current symptoms and rule out any secondary infections. Concurrently, the mold itself must be dealt with. The size of the patch you describe means it is not a DIY cleaning project. Disturbing it without proper containment will release a massive amount of spores into your apartment's air, severely worsening the problem.

You need a professional mold inspection and remediation company. They will assess the full extent of the growth, which often spreads inside wall cavities from a leak like yours. Proper remediation involves isolating the area, removing contaminated materials safely, and using HEPA filtration to clean the air. Once the source is removed, the respiratory symptoms should subside. To confirm the mold is gone, a post-remediation verification test, typically involving air and surface sampling analyzed by a microbiology lab, is the only way to know for sure your indoor air quality has been restored.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on April 26, 2026 3:54 pm