Mold Allergies: Vital parenting information from Eyewitness News

Our bodies are designed to work with the environment. But sometimes, immune systems don't function properly and simple allergins turn into serious health concerns.

The sniffles and sneezes that go along with allergy season, can certainly get your child feeling less than perfect. Most of the time, going indoors can help them avoid the outdoor triggers like, ragweed.

Mold, can be found outdoors... but sometimes also has indoor orgins. And in that case, there may be little, if any, relief.

The immune systems of generally healthy people can handle most allergins... but mold spores, indoor or outdoors, can create serious health problems for those with compromised immune systems.

Dr. Joe Matusic, Pediarician
There are people with particular complex medical problems. People with asthma, complex allergy disorders, cystic fibrosis, that when they get exposed to something their immune system doesn't handle it the way it's supposed to.

Their system over-reacts or allows an infection to start. Those people are vulnerable.

Dr. Joe Matusic
You get exposed to a mold spore, and it induces an allergic reaction that then causes respiratory problems. Your mucus thickens, lungs tighten. People with asthma, they spasm and get an attack.

Until then, a child who's allergic to mold that's occuring indoors, won't get better until they or the mold, is removed. Their doctor may also have to prescribe a variety of medicines including, antibotics and steroids.

Dr. Joe Matusic
In other people, that mold spore releases toxins that cause infections that cause more lung thickening, and they get pneumonia. And sometimes it's actually deadly, they can have a severe over reaction.

Dr. Matusic says there are many allergic triggers in everyone's home- including comfortors, pillows, stuffed animals, and poorly maintained heating ducts.

And if you suspect mold in your home, or any other environment is affecting your child's health, he stresses not to panic or overreact.. but advises to investigate and try and get any issues resolved. And above all, talk to your child's doctor if their symptoms persist.