Is apartment mold causing my kids' constant sickness?« Back to Previous Page

My kids have been having a constant runny nose and cough for the last month, and I’m starting to panic. I just pulled our sofa away from the wall in our Deira apartment and found a huge patch of black, fuzzy mold spreading from the corner where the AC unit drips. The room constantly feels damp. Could this mold be the cause of their sickness, and what’s the first thing I should do to deal with it safely?
Posted by Jean Torres
Asked on April 26, 2026 1:20 pm
Black mold in a Deira apartment is a very likely cause of persistent respiratory symptoms like a runny nose and cough in children. The dampness and visible growth you describe create a perfect environment for mold spores, which are potent allergens and irritants, especially for young, developing respiratory systems.

Your first step is to stop the moisture source. The constant dampness from the AC drip is feeding the mold. Wipe the area dry immediately and place a container to catch any active dripping. Increase ventilation in the room by opening windows when outdoor humidity is lower, typically early mornings during the winter months.

Do not attempt to clean significant black mold growth yourself with bleach or other chemicals. Disturbing it without proper containment will aerosolize a high concentration of spores, potentially worsening your children's exposure and spreading the problem throughout the apartment. For a patch of this size and given the health symptoms, a professional inspection is strongly advised to assess the full extent, including any hidden growth inside the wall.

A certified inspector can take samples for lab analysis to confirm the mold type and provide a protocol for safe, effective remediation that follows Dubai Municipality guidelines. This is the safest approach to resolve the root cause and protect your family's health. In the meantime, consider keeping the children out of that room until it has been addressed.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on April 27, 2026 6:31 pm