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Cladosporium is a group of mold fungi numbering several hundred species. Mold spores of the genus Cladosporium are one of the most common causes of allergies.
Cladosporium is a mold fungus whose spores are carried by the wind. Molds of the genus Cladosporium occur both in the natural environment and at home, willingly inhabiting warm and humid places, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
The greatest concentration of spores of these fungi occurs from May to August. At this time, the symptoms of allergies intensify in people allergic to spores of these molds.
Symptoms of an allergy to fungi of the Cladosporium group
Cladosporium causes an allergy with symptoms similar to those to other mold fungi such as Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium. Allergy to Cladosporium usually occurs at a slightly later age (not in childhood and early adolescence) and is hereditary. Hypersensitivity to mold fungi of the Cladosporium group may cause general weakening of the body and lower immunity, which results in frequent colds and other infections. However, the most common symptoms of a Cladosporium allergy are sneezing, runny nose, asthma, and fungal sinusitis. In particularly sensitive individuals, contact with Cladosporium may cause skin reactions, including atopic dermatitis.
The bad news is that only in a sterile clean place can we be guaranteed the absence of Cladosporium. A flat or a house is usually not a spotlessly clean place, however, you can, using fairly simple rules, limit the settlement of mold fungi from the Cladosporium group in it.
These molds especially like poorly ventilated, stuffy, warm and humid places. Therefore, frequent airing of the rooms at home and ensuring efficient and good ventilation is the basis of the fight against Cladosporium, especially if we have an allergy at home or we are allergic to spores of these fungi. The bathroom and kitchen should be cleaned frequently and the spaces around the sink and washbasin and between the tiles should be taken care of. It is also worth taking care of cleanliness and good quality of air in the workplace. Particularly neglected air conditioning is a risk factor, because Cladosporiums love wet places and not very good air circulation. Also here, airing the rooms and checking the ventilation as well as cleaning or changing the air conditioning will help. Unfortunately, the bad news for lovers of potted plants is that Cladosporium, like mushrooms of the genus Alternaria, love moist soil and decaying leaf debris. Therefore, if we do not want too many of these microorganisms in our home or workplace, we should limit the cultivation of potted flowers or replace the soil with a different substrate. You should also not leave any leftovers of food, fruit and vegetables – these should be kept in the refrigerator if possible. If we do not follow the above rules, a large colony of Cladosporium fungi in our home is only a matter of time.
Symptoms of an allergy to Cladosporium are treated (or basically alleviated) with antiallergic preparations, most often taken by inhalation. In addition to taking medications, it is first of all necessary to eliminate the sources of allergies from the environment of the allergic person.
As mentioned above, the basis for prophylaxis and management of allergies to Cladosporium is to maintain the rules of hygiene and cleanliness in the rooms, and to ventilate them frequently, plus efficient ventilation. People who are allergic to mold fungi from the Cladosporium family or those with allergic household members should completely give up indoor air humidifiers, ventilate the rooms frequently and thoroughly and take care of the cleanliness of the bathroom and kitchen. Cladosporium spores are also found in household dust, so it is important to vacuum and clean the apartment frequently and thoroughly. However, it is not possible to eliminate Cladosporium completely, and they also occur naturally, such as in soil and in the remains of rotting plants. Therefore, taking antiallergic drugs is a necessity in many cases, especially as allergy symptoms can be very bothersome and may increase with age. People who are allergic to Cladosporium should avoid places such as greenhouses, cellars and unheated summer houses, and they should not rake lawns and leaves.