host posted on December 01, 2008 12:37
Mold, (fungi), can harm humans by three mechanisms including: 1) production of substances which cause allergic reactions, (allergens), 2) production of toxic chemicals, (mycotoxins), and 3) by infections which can either be small, (localized), or large, (systemic throughout the whole body).
The importance of mold infections is generally underrated. The most feared complications can cause life threatening systemic infections throughout large areas of the body. These systemic infections commonly involve a damaged or immunocompromised immune system, which is found in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs for bone or organ transplants, those with HIV/AIDS, malnourished persons, and those with certain forms of cancer, such as leukemia or lymphoma. Systemic mold infections also occasionally occur in people with no obvious immune problems. The most common molds that cause life-threatening systemic infections include Candida and Aspergillus species.
The incidence of severe mold infections is hard to determine. Some estimates report that there are about 10,000 to 30,000 severe systemic mold infections annually in the US. Many published hospital-based studies have reported that the use of HEPA and other air filtration units, better cleaning of hospital surfaces, and more frequent hand washing by medical staff and visitors can significantly reduce the risk of hospital acquired mold infections.
Serious lung infections can be caused by a number of molds including Aspergillus, Histoplasmosis, Coccidiodies, and Cryptococcus. Aspergillus infections are commonly spread through the lung.
Histoplasmosis infections have been linked to bird droppings and are common in HIV/AIDS patients.
Coccidioidies mold is commonly found in the dust in South Western US and Mexico. An outbreak of lung Coccidiodies infection occurred recently among several Arizona archeologists who did some dusty excavation work without wearing any facemasks or respiratory protection.
Cryptococcus is a soil mold, which is also common among HIV/AIDS patients. Respirators or dust masks should be used in dusty environments or when dealing with large numbers of animals or large amounts of animal wastes.
Localized mold skin infections are common and can be caused by such common molds as Candida, Trichophyton, and Microsporium. “Athlete’s foot,” “jock itch,” and “ringworm” are commonly caused by Trichophyton and other skin molds. Skin infections can be treated either by topical medications, such as miconazole, or by oral, systemic medications, such as ketoconazole or flucanazole. Regular cleaning of skin with soap and water can also reduce risk of some skin mold infections.
Localized mold infections can also occur in the nose, nasal passages and in the eyes. Recent research by Ear Nose and Throat Physician Don Dennis of Atlanta has reported that using anti-fungal nasal sprays and reducing indoor air exposure to molds can greatly improve symptoms in chronic nasal sinus patients.
Candida is a mold or yeast. Candida is considered a “normal” inhabitant of human digestive tracts, but can often become overgrown in the skin, digestive tract, urinary, and reproductive tracts. Candida is especially apt to overgrow in people with poor nutrition, high sugar diets, or are taking long term courses of antibiotics, steroids, or oral contraceptives. Candida produces large quantities of alcohol, (ethanol), toxic chemicals like acetaldehyde, and many allergenic proteins. There have been documented examples of patients with heavy Candida overgrowth in their digestive tracts producing enough alcohol to cause the patients to become drunk without drinking any beverage alcohol, (these patients have been called “drunken liars”).
Use of low-sugar, low-yeast diets, anti-mold drugs, and probiotics like Lactobacillus can reduce risk of yeast overgrowth. Doug Kaufmann has extensively studied and written about yeast problems and how to fix them.