Is mold causing my kids' coughing in Sharjah?« Back to Previous Page
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My kids have been coughing and sneezing non-stop since the humidity spiked in Sharjah a few weeks ago. I just pulled out a box of winter clothes from the storage cupboard under our stairs and found a bunch of jackets covered in fuzzy black spots. The smell was awful. Could this mold be the reason they're sick, and what's the safest way to clean everything without making their allergies worse?
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It's very possible the mold is contributing to their symptoms. High humidity in Sharjah creates ideal conditions for mold growth, and respiratory irritation like coughing and sneezing is a common reaction to mold spores in the air. The reaction is often worse in children.
The safest approach is to isolate the problem immediately. Seal the moldy items in plastic bags and remove them from the home to prevent further spore release. Do not attempt to clean them with bleach or other chemicals yourself, as this can aerosolize the spores and significantly worsen the air quality, making your kids' symptoms more severe. For porous materials like textiles, disposal is often the only safe option. To address the root cause, the storage cupboard must be inspected for the moisture source, which is likely condensation or a minor seepage issue exacerbated by our climate. The area needs to be professionally cleaned and dried. For a situation involving health symptoms, a professional inspection is recommended to assess the air quality throughout your home and identify any hidden growth in AC units or behind walls, which is common here due to year-round AC use and condensation. A company with its own microbiology lab can identify the mold type and provide a targeted remediation plan with verifiable post-cleanup results. |
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