Should we leave our moldy house for kids' health?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, you should take this situation seriously and consider temporarily relocating your children until the mold is properly assessed and contained. The black mold you discovered, likely Stachybotrys chartarum, produces mycotoxins that can cause persistent respiratory issues like the coughing you described, especially in children whose immune systems are still developing.

In Dubai's climate, with high humidity and constant AC use, hidden mold from slow leaks is common. The AC system can spread spores throughout the house, which explains symptoms even if the mold is only in one room. Do not attempt to remove it yourself, as disturbing it will aerosolize a massive amount of spores.

Your immediate steps should be to isolate the area by closing the door and avoiding use of that AC unit. Have a professional mold inspector conduct a thorough assessment, including air quality testing, to identify all contaminated areas and the specific species. For a case of this visible size with active health symptoms, remediation should be done by a certified company using containment barriers and HEPA filtration to prevent cross-contamination.

Once the source of the moisture (the AC leak) is repaired and the mold is professionally remediated with post-clearance testing to verify it's gone, it will be safe for your family to return. The constant coughing should subside once the exposure is eliminated.