Current Environment:

What is a mold allergy?

Mold is a member of the fungus family

  • It can be found growing both outdoors (on dead or dying vegetation such as rotting leaves or logs) and indoors (damp basements, closets, bathrooms, mattresses, air conditioners, and humidifiers are all possible habitats.)
  • Mold spores and fragments may be inhaled.
  • Mold may also be eaten, in foods such as cheese, mushrooms, dried fruits, soy sauce, vinegar, and foods containing yeast.

A mold allergy is an abnormal response of your child’s body to mold.

Is a child with a mold allergy necessarily allergic to a mold-derived drug, like penicillin?

There is no known relationship between allergy to the mold Penicillin and allergy to the antibiotic penicillin, which is made from the mold. Consult your child's physician for more information.

Research & Clinical Trials

Boston Children's Hospital is home to the Pediatric Environmental Health Center, which provides comprehensive, coordinated services for children exposed to environmental toxins. As well as offering clinical care, the center is researching important questions in pediatric environmental health, including:

  • How do lead and mercury affect children of different ages?
  • What is the best way to treat children with lead and mercury poisoning? When should medications that bind metals be used?
  • For adolescents that work: what type of toxic exposures do they have, and how can overexposures be prevented?
  • What do other health professionals, such as pediatric primary care providers, need to know about pediatric environmental health?
  • What are the best ways to promote education about pediatric environmental health issues?

Programs & Services

Programs

Pediatric Environmental Health Center

Program

The Pediatric Environmental Health Center coordinates the care of children and adolescents exposed to a wide range of poisons.

Sinonasal Clinic

Program

Our clinic is a leader in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of pediatric sinonasal conditions.

Departments

Division of General Pediatrics

Department

The Division of General Pediatrics seeks to enhance the lives of children and families through clinical care, teaching, research, and community service.

Immunology

Department

The Division of Immunology treats asthma, allergies, immune system disorders, skin diseases, and rheumatologic and inflammatory conditions.
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