Could hidden mold be causing our family's illness?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, hidden mold can absolutely be the cause of your family's persistent coughing and headaches. The symptoms you describe are very common reactions to prolonged mold exposure, particularly in an enclosed space like a bedroom. The mold spores and microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) released into the air act as irritants to the respiratory system and can trigger headaches.

Given the climate in Dubai, this is a frequent issue. The combination of high outdoor humidity and year-round AC use creates perfect conditions for condensation and mold growth inside homes, especially in poorly ventilated areas like the back of a wardrobe against an exterior wall. The mold was likely growing slowly over time and was only discovered when you moved the bag that was trapping moisture against the wall.

The fastest and safest way to deal with it is to first isolate the area. Keep the bedroom door closed and the windows open if possible to ventilate. Do not attempt to scrub or disturb the mold patch yourself, as this will aerosolize a massive amount of spores throughout your home. For a growth of that size and because it's on a structural wall, a professional inspection and remediation is strongly advised. They will contain the area, safely remove the contaminated materials, identify and fix the moisture source (likely condensation or a tiny leak), and treat the area to prevent regrowth.

In the UAE, reputable remediation companies should provide before-and-after air quality test results from an independent lab to verify the spore count has returned to safe levels. This is the only way to be certain the problem is resolved and your family's health is protected.