Mold in apartment causing kids' persistent cough?« Back to Previous Page

My kids have been coughing non-stop for the past 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 mold spreading from the corner where the AC unit drips. The room constantly feels damp no matter how much I run the AC. Could this mold be the reason for their persistent coughs and should I get them to a doctor immediately?
Posted by Richard Lee
Asked on May 7, 2026 6:25 pm
Yes, that mold is very likely contributing to your children's persistent coughs. The constant dampness you describe creates a perfect environment for mold growth, and the spores it releases are a common irritant to the respiratory system, especially in children.

The dampness is likely caused by a combination of Dubai's high humidity and a potential issue with your AC unit, such as a clogged drain line or insufficient cooling capacity, leading to condensation that soaks into the wall. This is a frequent problem in apartments here.

You should have your children seen by a doctor to rule out other causes and address their symptoms. For the mold, stop trying to manage it with the AC alone. A patch large enough to cause ongoing health issues requires professional assessment. The mold you see on the surface is often just a fraction of what has grown inside the wall cavity.

In Dubai, remediation for a case like this involves identifying and fixing the moisture source first—often an AC repair—then safely removing the contaminated materials. DIY cleaning with bleach is not effective on porous surfaces like drywall and can aerosolize spores. Proper remediation requires containment, professional-grade HEPA filtration, and removal of affected materials to prevent the spores from spreading to other areas of your home. A reputable local company can conduct an inspection to determine the full extent and provide a plan for remediation.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on May 10, 2026 3:31 pm