Health Tips / Asthma severity linked to fungal spores

Asthma Severity Increased by Airborne Moulds rather than Pollens.

A European-wide study reported that severe adults asthma may be associated with sensitivity to the airborne fungal or mould spores rather than to seasonal allergens such as pollens.

Reported in the British Medical Journal, the French study of over one thousand adult asthmatics linked the severity of their asthma more closely with sensitisation to airborne moulds rather than allergens traditionally associated with asthma such as cats or pollens. Indeed the research team did not find any link between the severity of asthma and sensitisation to pollens or cats.

The researchers believe that because fungal spores are much smaller in size than pollens, they can reach travel to lowers areas of the lungs and thus increase the severity of asthma. In addition, the authors argue that as moulds can occur both indoors and outdoors, exposure to moulds could potentially be greater, as we spend most of our time indoors.

Fungal spores are a in the atmosphere at all times of the year. Indeed some types, such as Cladosporium Alternaria, often associated with allergies, can increase during months of July and August.

To avoid fungal spores indoors, damp conditions which promote the growth of moulds should be avoided.

Read the British Medical Journal article

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