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Stop using the room immediately and have your family wait elsewhere until a professional assessment is done. The combination of persistent coughing in children and a large, hidden mold patch indicates a significant indoor air quality issue that requires urgent attention.

In Dubai's climate, this scenario is common. High humidity and year-round AC use can lead to condensation and slow leaks that go unnoticed, especially behind furniture. The strong musty smell confirms active microbial growth. Do not attempt to remove this yourself, as disturbing a large patch can aerosolize spores and drastically increase your family's exposure, potentially worsening respiratory symptoms.

The fastest and most effective method is a professional remediation following IICRC standards. A certified inspector should first conduct a thorough assessment, including moisture mapping to find the leak's source—this is critical, as just cleaning the visible mold will result in it returning. The remediation itself involves isolating the contaminated area with physical barriers and negative air pressure, physically removing the mold-infested materials, HEPA vacuuming, and then antimicrobial treatment of the affected surfaces. The entire process should be validated by post-remediation testing to confirm spore counts have returned to normal indoor levels.

Given the health symptoms, your priority is to eliminate exposure. Stay with family or in a hotel until the remediation is complete and the post-clearance test results are provided. For verifiable work, only hire a company that provides detailed documentation, including moisture readings, photos of the process, and before-and-after lab analysis from an independent microbiology lab.