The Dangers of Mold

Living in the tropics has its downsides. “Florida is one of the epicenters of mold emergencies, and that's because of the climate down here, the humidity that we experience, the likelihood that we experience of big storms, tropical storms and hurricanes,” said Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, Lee Health’s Chief Medical Officer.

While there are thousands of different types of molds, “The molds that one needs to be most concerned about are those molds that proliferate after a flooding event. Black molds and other molds that you see in the home that can be particularly harmful,” said Dr. Gonsenhauser.

It can form quickly, just 24-48 hours after a flood. Symptoms are similar to seasonal allergic reactions. “Puffy eyes, runny nose, sometimes feeling a bit of fatigue or just feeling not like yourself,” said Dr. Gonsenhauser.

Those with asthma, COPD, or prone to severe allergic reactions should be extra cautious. The immunosuppressed have the potential to develop mold pneumonias. “That's an infection in the lung that's caused by mold. These can be difficult to detect, they can be difficult to treat, and they can be very serious,” said Dr. Gonsenhauser.

If you notice symptoms, leave the environment, speak with your doctor, and get the affected area cleaned up as soon as possible. You can learn more by searching for emergency preparedness on leehealth.org.



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Lee Health in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of health care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For more than 100 years, we’ve been providing our community with personalized preventative health services and primary care to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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