Is mold causing my kids' coughs and how to clean?« Back to Previous Page

It is very likely the mold exposure is contributing to your children's persistent coughs and runny noses. The black, fuzzy mold you describe is a significant irritant, especially in a confined space like a storage room. When the AC circulates air, it can distribute mold spores throughout the villa, continuously exposing them. This is a common issue in Dubai's climate, where high humidity and constant AC use can create condensation and hidden dampness perfect for mold growth.

For their safety, keep the children out of that area and close the door immediately. Do not attempt to clean it yourself, as disturbing it will aerosolize a massive number of spores and likely make their symptoms worse. This level of contamination requires professional remediation.

The safest approach is a verified inspection and cleanup process. A proper mold inspection will identify the moisture source (like a condensation leak from an AC duct or seepage through the wall) and assess the full extent, often with lab analysis to confirm the type. Remediation involves containing the area with negative air pressure, physically removing the contaminated materials, and using HEPA filtration to clean the air. Once the source is fixed and the mold is removed, their symptoms should improve. For a villa in Jumeirah with a wall-sized growth, this is not a DIY project.