Patient consulting with doctor in medical office

When to See a Doctor About Mold Exposure

Knowing when to seek medical care and how to communicate with healthcare providers about potential mold-related symptoms.

Seek Emergency Care Immediately

Call 911 or go to an emergency room if you experience severe difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) with swelling of face/throat or difficulty swallowing, high fever (over 103°F) with respiratory symptoms, confusion or altered mental status, or coughing up blood.

These symptoms require immediate medical attention regardless of the suspected cause. While severe reactions to mold are rare, they can occur, especially in immunocompromised individuals or those with severe allergies.

See a Doctor Within Days

Schedule an appointment within a few days if you have persistent respiratory symptoms like ongoing cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath that doesn't resolve within a week.

See a doctor for worsening asthma if you're needing rescue inhalers more often or your control is slipping. Significant sinus symptoms like persistent congestion, facial pain, or thick nasal discharge lasting more than 10 days warrant medical attention.

Recurring respiratory infections, persistent skin rashes or hives, and eye irritation that doesn't resolve with over-the-counter treatments should also be evaluated.

Symptoms that consistently worsen when you're in a particular building and improve when you leave are particularly noteworthy. For more on how mold affects the respiratory system, see our respiratory and allergic effects guide.

Symptoms to Monitor

Some symptoms may not require immediate medical attention but should be tracked. Keep a symptom diary noting when symptoms occur and their severity, where you were when they started or worsened, whether they improve in certain locations, and any patterns you notice.

Symptoms to track include mild allergic symptoms like sneezing or runny nose, occasional headaches, mild fatigue, throat irritation, and intermittent skin irritation.

If these symptoms persist for more than 2-3 weeks or progressively worsen, schedule a medical appointment. Documentation can help your doctor understand your situation.

How to Talk to Your Doctor

When discussing potential mold exposure with a healthcare provider, be specific and factual by describing your symptoms, their timing, and your living/working environment. Mention visible mold, water damage, musty odors, or recent flooding.

Bring documentation including photos of mold or water damage in your environment, any mold testing results if you have them, and your symptom diary.

Describe patterns by explaining if symptoms improve when you're away from the suspected environment (vacation, work vs. home, etc.). Mention vulnerable factors like existing conditions such as asthma or allergies, immune system concerns, or family history of respiratory issues.

Be open to other causes since symptoms attributed to mold can have many causes; let your doctor evaluate comprehensively rather than pushing for a specific diagnosis.

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What to Expect from Medical Evaluation

A standard medical evaluation for suspected mold-related symptoms typically includes a medical history and physical examination where the doctor will ask about symptoms, living conditions, occupational exposures, and medical history. They'll examine your respiratory system, skin, and other relevant areas.

Allergy testing may be conducted if allergic symptoms are present, where skin prick tests or blood tests can identify specific mold allergies, though these tests don't indicate exposure levels, just sensitivity.

Pulmonary function tests may be done if respiratory symptoms are significant, particularly for asthmatics. Additional testing based on symptoms may include imaging (chest X-ray), blood work, or other tests based on the clinical picture.

Your doctor may NOT order "mold toxicity" tests such as urine mycotoxin tests since these are not validated or recommended by major medical organizations. See our mycotoxins guide for more on this topic.

A good physician will evaluate all potential causes, not just mold.

Finding the Right Doctor

For mold-related health concerns, consider starting with your primary care physician who can evaluate symptoms, refer to specialists, and coordinate care. An allergist/immunologist specializes in allergic conditions and can test for mold allergies, so they're useful if allergic symptoms predominate. A pulmonologist handles lung specialists who can evaluate respiratory symptoms, asthma, and other lung conditions. An occupational medicine specialist is appropriate if symptoms relate to workplace mold exposure.

Be cautious of practitioners who specialize exclusively in "mold illness" or "toxic mold syndrome," order non-validated tests like urine mycotoxin panels, diagnose "CIRS" or "mold toxicity" based on symptom checklists alone, recommend expensive proprietary treatments or supplements, or won't consider alternative diagnoses.

These are similar to red flags in mold testing services. These red flags don't mean all alternative practitioners are problematic, but they suggest caution. Mainstream medical evaluation should be your starting point.

Official Resources

This is general educational information, not medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider for personal health concerns. In case of emergency, call 911.