Mold

I have been tested for mold allergies and was told I am sensitive to many molds.  I also have asthma.  My workplace recently had a major water leak due to pipes bursting.  When I went to work in the middle of the clean up, I had a bad reaction, which consisted of headache, sinus congestion and mild wheezing.

I had to take 4 days sick time because I do not want to enter the building while they are still cleaning.  They do have professionals coming in to repair and test the areas.  My problems is that I am afraid that when I go back I may still be reacting.  I react very strongly to mold, damp areas, wet rugs.  My boss ensured me that when I go back in a couple of days, everything will be cleaned and dried.  

In the event, I continue to react, what steps can I take medically, besides removing myself from the workplace.  I cannot afford to lose my job.

Thanks for your help.

[J.M. Keyes, MD]

Hi there,
I am not a lawyer, but I can't imagine that an employer would be able to fire you based on something that is causing you illness in the workplace.  That being said, I am sure the prospect of having to take extra time off work and deal with the consequences is one you'd like to avoid.  Make sure you make it clear to your employer that you have a serious mold allergy, and if needed, get a note from your doctor stating that working in an area with mold will affect your health.

There are some medications that you can use that may help curb the symptoms of your mold allery:

Nasal corticosteroids (spray) . Examples include Flonase, Veramyst,Nasonex and Beconase. They can take a few days up to a week to be effective, so consider starting it even before your return to work.  See your doctor for a prescription.

Antihistamines.  For example, Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra (prescription).

Decongestants.  Don't use decongestants if you have high blood pressure, and don't use a decongestant nasal spray for more than 3 days.

Montelukast. Montelukast (Singulair) is a prescription tablet that can be effective in treating mold allergy. Like antihistamines, this medication is not as effective as inhaled corticosteroids. It's often used when nasal sprays cannot be tolerated, or when mild asthma is present.

Also, to deal with the asthma symptoms related to your allergy, be sure to always have your rescue inhaler with you (eg Ventolin), and talk to your doctor about whether you need inhaled corticosteroids (eg Flovent) as a preventative.

Also consider getting a dehumidifer for your work space.

I hope this helps.  Good luck!

JMK MD