Mold Allergy

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Mold Allergy

Last Updated: October 11, 2004 Rate this Article

http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic1471.htm

Synonyms and related keywords: fungal allergy, fungi, Oomycetes,

Zygomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, Deuteromycetes, allergic

rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic asthma, immunoglobulin E–

mediated asthma, IgE-mediated asthma, AFS, allergic fungal

sinusitis, ABPA, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, ABPM, non-

Aspergillus allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis, non-Aspergillus ABPM,

EAA, extrinsic allergic alveolitis, wood pulp worker's lung, malt

worker's lung, farmer's lung , maple bark stripper's lung, sewage

worker's lung, paprika splitter's lung, humidifier lung, ventilation

pneumonitis

AUTHOR INFORMATION Section 1 of 10

Author Information Introduction Clinical Differentials Workup

Treatment Medication Follow-up Miscellaneous Bibliography

Author: Shih-Wen Huang, MD, Medical Director of Allergy Service,

Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Immunology and

Infectious Diseases, University of Florida College of Medicine

Shih-Wen Huang, MD, is a member of the following medical societies:

American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology

Editor(s): C Lucy Park, MD, Director, Allergy and Asthma Center,

Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of

Illinois at Chicago; L Windle, PharmD, Adjunct Assistant

Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of

Pharmacy, Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine.com, Inc; J Valacer, MD,

Consulting Staff, Hoffman La Roche Pharmaceuticals; Pallares,

MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division

of Allergy and Immunology, University of Louisville; and Mark

Ballow, MD, Chief, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Buffalo

Children's Hospital; Professor, Department of Pediatrics, State

University of New York at Buffalo

Background: People are exposed to aeroallergens in a variety of

settings, both at home and at work. Fungi are ubiquitous airborne

allergens and are important causes of human diseases, especially in

the upper and lower respiratory tracts. These diseases can occur in

persons of various ages.

Fungi as aeroallergens

Airborne spores and other fungi particles are ubiquitous in nonpolar

landscapes, especially among field crops, and often form the bulk of

suspended biogenic debris. The term mold is often used synonymously

with the term fungi. A more precise definition would specify that

molds lack macroscopic reproductive structures but may produce

visible colonies. Respiratory illness in subjects exposed to rust

and dark-spored imperfecti fungi was described more than 60 years

ago, and sensitization to diverse fungi is now recognized. Since

fungus particles are commonly derived from wholly microscopic

sources, exposure hazards are assessed largely through direct

sampling of a suspect atmosphere. Because of small size, fungal

emanations present special collection requirements to ensure

particle viability for culture-based studies.

Functional biology of fungi