gimpydimp
07-09-2008, 05:31 PM
My blood test results (immunoCap test) FINALLY came back (5 weeks later) and it seems I am allergic to oak trees and two molds that were tested for: cladosporium and aspergillus. I have been doing the obligatory internet reading and am somewhat confused. It seems you can be infected WITH the fungus/mold, or you can be allergic to it. How does one get infected with it and how is that different from being allergic in terms of symptoms? Does anyone know?
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gcsmithjr
07-09-2008, 07:27 PM
Cladosporium and aspergillus are primarily environmental molds - they're very common in the air around us and cause allergic reactions - aspergillus can infect people (when that happens it's called aspergillosis), but it's usually only people who have a severely compromised immune system (caused by some other disease, a bone marrow transplant, etc). If you don't have a compromised immune system your chances of being infected by aspergillus are extremely low.
Mold allergies, on the other hand, are very common. Like all other allergies, they're an over-reaction of the body's immune system to the mold that can give you a runny nose, watery eyes, nasal congestion, and sometimes wheezing (and can trigger an asthma attack if you have asthma).
Unless you have a compromised immune system you really don't need to worry about the infection, just the allergies.
Mold allergies, on the other hand, are very common. Like all other allergies, they're an over-reaction of the body's immune system to the mold that can give you a runny nose, watery eyes, nasal congestion, and sometimes wheezing (and can trigger an asthma attack if you have asthma).
Unless you have a compromised immune system you really don't need to worry about the infection, just the allergies.