Infant Pulmonary Hemorrhage & Mold

[Guest guest]

: Environ Health Perspect. 1999 Nov;107(11):927-30. Related

Articles, Links

Infant pulmonary hemorrhage in a suburban home with water damage and

mold (Stachybotrys atra).

Flappan SM, Portnoy J, P, C.

Department of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Children's Mercy

Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Sflappan@...

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently issued guidelines

regarding the potential toxic effect of indoor molds. We now report

another case of an infant with pulmonary hemorrhage whose

residential environmental assessment revealed the presence of the

toxigenic mold Stachybotrys atra. We used a questionnaire to

identify environmental factors that could predispose the home to

fungal contamination. We collected air samples from multiple

locations in the home that we felt would reflect areas of relevant

exposure. Surface samples were collected with a piece of transparent

tape for semiquantitative measurement of spores present. We

classified spores into their respective genera based on shape, size,

and color. We also measured mycotoxin levels. Air sampling revealed

significantly elevated total spore counts in the patient's bedroom

and in the attic. Aspergillus/Penicillium species were predominant.

Stachybotrys spores were found in the air sampled in the patient's

bedroom, as well as from surfaces sampled in the patient's closet

and the attic ceiling. Additionally, a small patch of Stachybotrys-

contaminated area in the closet ceiling was sent for mycotoxin

analysis. This material proved to be highly toxigenic. As the link

between the presence of Stachybotrys in the home and pulmonary

hemorrhage in infants increases, further efforts should be made to

educate physicians, health care providers, and new parents about the

potential toxic effects of this mold.

PMID: 10544162 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=10544162 & dopt=Abstract