Could this really be the cause?

[Guest guest]

Hi, I just joined the group to find some answers. We moved into a

rent house just after Christmas 02. After about a week my son and I

have had continual sinus and ear infections. My husband has been on

and off sick and has headaches. This is not normal for us. At first I

thought it was the new day care and my son just brought home every

bug they had. Then he got pink eye but no one at the day care has

pink eye now. Then 4 days ago sinus/ear infections with a high fever.

The pink eye rages on despite giving him antibiotic drops for 3 times

the prescribed time. This morning it occured to me he inherited my

bad allergies. But I usually only get spring/summer allergies. The

sicknesses seem to subside on nice sunny days when we are outside and

have the windows open(I live in Houston). We have been the sickest on

the cold days when the heater is on all the time. I have even turned

it up because I thought the cold would make us sicker.

Could this really be from a problem with dirt, allergens, or even

mold in the air/heat system? I am renting. Should I approach my

landlord about this first? Can I get it inspected without his

permission? I can get the duct system cleaned for about $60. Should I

just do it even if the Landlord won't help? What is the law in these

situations? I really like the house and the neighborhood and want to

stay. But I have missed so much work already. Sorry to ramble on. Any

suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Stacey,

I have been very sick from mold exposure. If you want ,you can buy mold test kits at Home Depot for 9 or ten dollars. You sound like the symptoms of mold. I started with hives, then sinus trouble then all the way to asthma and living with hepa filter air cleaners and a 3m mask outside when it is warm enough to smell mold in the dirt. I also had pink eye a year ago. I worked in a moldy basement. Years of bronchitis, enough sinus infections to scar my bone, walking pneumonia, ear infections. I just did nt realize at the time what it was. I wish you luck and God Bless,

Janet