Could mold in our apartment be causing our coughs?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, the mold behind your wardrobe is very likely contributing to your family's persistent coughs and allergy symptoms. The damp wall suggests a moisture issue, which allows mold to grow and release spores into your indoor air. When inhaled, these spores are a common irritant that can cause chronic coughing, congestion, and worsened allergies, especially in children and sensitive individuals.

In Dubai's climate, this scenario is common. Year-round AC use creates significant temperature differences between cool indoor air and the humid outdoor environment, leading to condensation on walls, particularly behind large furniture like wardrobes that restrict airflow. This trapped moisture creates the perfect environment for mold growth.

You should arrange for a professional indoor environmental assessment. A proper inspection involves more than a visual check; it includes using a moisture meter to quantify the dampness in that wall and air sampling to identify the types and concentrations of mold spores present in your apartment's air. This is crucial because while the visible mold is a problem, the hidden spores you're breathing are the direct cause of the respiratory issues. In the UAE, reputable providers should be able to produce a detailed report, often supported by analysis from an accredited microbiology lab, which identifies the specific species. This is important for understanding the health risk and for properly remediating the source.

Do not attempt to clean significant mold growth yourself with bleach or other store-bought solutions, as this can disturb the colony and aerosolize a high concentration of spores, temporarily making the air quality much worse. The priority is to identify and fix the source of the moisture—likely condensation or a hidden leak—and then have the contaminated materials properly remediated to remove the allergen source entirely.