Forbes:Health Tip: Before Mold Takes Hold

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Health Tip: Before Mold Takes Hold

http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/health/feeds/hscout/2006/01/31/hscout

530598.html

(HealthDay News) -- After natural disasters such as Hurricane

Katrina, and even in normal instances where excess moisture and

standing water sometimes occur, mold can take hold.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that people

most at risk are those with asthma, allergies or other breathing

conditions, along with people who have suppressed immune systems,

such as HIV patients or those undergoing chemotherapy.

Allergic reactions to mold can vary from simple stuffy noses to

difficulty breathing to mold infections in their lungs.

To prevent mold, clean wet surfaces and items with a detergent and

water. Also, clean or remove all items that have been wet for more

than 48 hours from your home. Items that should be thrown out

include carpeting, upholstery, wallpaper, floor and ceiling tiles,

and even clothes.