Health Tip: Before Mold Takes Hold

(HealthDay News) -- After natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, and even in normal instances where excess moisture and standing water sometimes occur, mold can take hold.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that people most at risk are those with asthma, allergies or other breathing conditions, along with people who have suppressed immune systems, such as HIV patients or those undergoing chemotherapy.

Allergic reactions to mold can vary from simple stuffy noses to difficulty breathing to mold infections in their lungs.

To prevent mold, clean wet surfaces and items with a detergent and water. Also, clean or remove all items that have been wet for more than 48 hours from your home. Items that should be thrown out include carpeting, upholstery, wallpaper, floor and ceiling tiles, and even clothes.

-- Deborah DiSesa Hirsch

Last Updated: Jan. 31, 2006