Cladosporium mould allergy
Allergy to Cladosporium mould.
About cladosporium mould allergy
Cladosporium is one of the most common airborne moulds worldwide, growing on dead leaves, soil, compost, textiles and damp indoor surfaces. Its spores are released in huge numbers, particularly during warmer months and on breezy days, with a marked outdoor peak in late summer and autumn; indoors it can persist wherever there is damp. In sensitised individuals, inhaled Cladosporium proteins trigger an IgE-mediated allergic reaction, releasing histamine and causing hay-fever-type symptoms. Mould allergy is less frequent than pollen or dust mite allergy, but Cladosporium is among the moulds most often responsible when it does occur.
Symptoms usually take the form of allergic rhinitis, with sneezing, nasal congestion, a runny nose and itchy, watery eyes when spore counts rise. Cladosporium sensitivity is also linked with asthma, so exposure can bring on coughing, wheeze and chest tightness in susceptible people, and it may aggravate eczema. These reactions are rarely life-threatening, but they can disrupt sleep and daytime concentration, and asthma flares always warrant attention.
Avoidance centres on limiting outdoor exposure when spore counts are high, wearing a mask for gardening and composting, and controlling indoor damp by ventilating, drying wet areas and cleaning mouldy surfaces. Diagnosis is confirmed with skin-prick or specific-IgE blood tests. Management follows the standard ladder of antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays, with allergen immunotherapy considered for selected, persistent cases. See a GP if symptoms are ongoing, disturb sleep, or come alongside worsening asthma.
Common triggers
- Cladosporium mould and products containing it
Symptoms
- Sneezing and a runny or blocked nose
- Itchy, red or watery eyes
- Itchy throat, nose or ears
- Coughing or wheezing
- Worsening of asthma
Avoidance & management
- Reduce exposure to the trigger where possible
- Keep windows closed during high-exposure periods
- Use air filtration and wash bedding regularly
- Shower and change clothes after exposure
- Use prescribed antihistamines, nasal sprays or preventers
Sources & references
Allergy safety: what everyone should know
Mild-to-moderate reaction signs
- Itching, hives or a raised rash
- Swelling of lips, face or eyes
- Tingling mouth, sneezing, runny nose
- Stomach pain, nausea or vomiting
Anaphylaxis — call 999 (UK) or 112 (EU) immediately
- Difficult or noisy breathing, wheeze, persistent cough
- Swelling of the tongue or tightness in the throat
- Dizziness, collapse, pale and floppy (young children)
- Use an adrenaline auto-injector (e.g. EpiPen) at once if prescribed, then call an ambulance even if symptoms improve
Allergy or intolerance? A true allergy involves the immune system and can escalate quickly; an intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance) is unpleasant but not life-threatening. The symptoms overlap, so self-diagnosis is unreliable.
Getting tested: home-testing kits based on IgG are not diagnostically valid. If you suspect an allergy, ask a GP for referral to an allergy clinic for skin-prick or specific-IgE testing and a supervised food challenge where appropriate.