Canadians with breathing problems after visiting Arizona and fungal infection in lung

[Guest guest]

I just heard from some relatives from Canada (Edmonton) who travel to Arizona for the winter (snow birds) that they know someone who developed a fungal infection after staying in Arizona for the winter. He was extremely ill especially with his lungs and had to go on antifungal for one year. He is doing much better but I have heard he is still not 100%. He had to sell his winter home in Arizona.

Then there are some others who developed chronic bronchitis( that's what the doctor diagnosed) as soon as they get to Arizona. their doctor has told them that it is the sand dust that is causing their lung problems.

Does anyone know anything about Arizona and why this might be happening to these people.

Most Canadians with mold induced breathing problems are often told to go to Arizona if we want to feel better with our lungs.

After I heard this I found it very scary to learn that people were developing breathing problems in a dry climate.

Is there more mold in Arizona, because I have heard desserts cool down at night thus producing condensation and thus potential for mold growth. Any input appreciated.

Teri

[Guest guest]

Arizona buildings are plagued by the same problems as buildings anywhere,

including dirty air conditioners and leaky roofs. Even worse, some cooling

is done with swamp chillers, an ideal mold breeding ground. These should be

cleaned and disinfected often, by usually aren't, and thus should be avoided

by those with respiratory sensitivities. In addition, the southwest has its

own unique additional molds. The following reference was found on

http://www.gideononline.com

Coccidioidomycosis is caused by _Coccidioides immitis_. According to Gideon:

Coccidioidomycosis was first reported in the United States in 1893: The

disease is most common in California (the San Joaquin Valley), Arizona,

Texas, New Mexico, southern Nevada, and Utah. The highest incidence occurs

in late summer and early fall -- large outbreaks frequently follow dust

storms. An estimated 100 000 infections occur in the United States annually,

and 1 in 200 infections progresses to disseminated disease. Can be fatal.

----Original Message Follows----

From: " barkwell " <_Barkwell@...>

<ToxicMoldSurvivors >

CC: < >

Subject: [] Canadians with breathing problems after visiting

Arizona and fungal infection in lung

Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 11:24:34 -0800

I just heard from some relatives from Canada (Edmonton) who travel to

Arizona for the winter (snow birds) that they know someone who developed a

fungal infection after staying in Arizona for the winter. He was extremely

ill especially with his lungs and had to go on antifungal for one year. He

is doing much better but I have heard he is still not 100%. He had to sell

his winter home in Arizona.

Then there are some others who developed chronic bronchitis( that's what the

doctor diagnosed) as soon as they get to Arizona. their doctor has told

them that it is the sand dust that is causing their lung problems.

Does anyone know anything about Arizona and why this might be happening to

these people.

Most Canadians with mold induced breathing problems are often told to go to

Arizona if we want to feel better with our lungs.

After I heard this I found it very scary to learn that people were

developing breathing problems in a dry climate.

Is there more mold in Arizona, because I have heard desserts cool down at

night thus producing condensation and thus potential for mold growth. Any

input appreciated.

Teri

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[Guest guest]

We naturally expect dry climates to be healthier for us than damp ones,

because this is the " common knowledge " we have depended on in the past.

However, hardly anyone who goes to the American southwest finds themselves

in a naturally dry climate, because by now nearly everyone has air

conditioners.

The availability of air conditioners beginning about 1950 has been a

tremendous stimulus to urban growth in New Mexico, Arizona and neighboring

states. It has also been a tremendous stimulus to mold growth indoors,

where air conditioning and hasty construction practices have created many

hidden niches for fungi of all sorts. You don't need leaky pipes or roofs

to have damp niches for mold - all you need is a cold surface for airborne

moisture to condense on, the kind of surfaces that air conditioners have on

the inside.

The American West and Southwest is known to have certain dangerous fungi

that live in the soil, and infect farmers, archaeologists and others who

work outside without taking precautions like watering down the soil and

wearing N95 respirators. Two of the illnesses they can cause are

coccidiomycosis and blastomycosis.

> I just heard from some relatives from Canada (Edmonton) who travel to

>Arizona for the winter (snow birds) that they know someone who developed

>a fungal infection after staying in Arizona for the winter. He was

>extremely ill especially with his lungs and had to go on antifungal for

>one year. He is doing much better but I have heard he is still not

>100%. He had to sell his winter home in Arizona. Then there are some

>others who developed chronic bronchitis( that's what the doctor

>diagnosed) as soon as they get to Arizona. their doctor has told them

>that it is the sand dust that is causing their lung problems. Does

>anyone know anything about Arizona and why this might be happening to

>these people. Most Canadians with mold induced breathing problems are

>often told to go to Arizona if we want to feel better with our lungs.

>After I heard this I found it very scary to learn that people were

>developing breathing problems in a dry climate. Is there more mold in

>Arizona, because I have heard desserts cool down at night thus producing

>condensation and thus potential for mold growth. Any input appreciated.

>Teri

>