How to tell if your symptoms are COVID-19 related or a result of mold?

In a world where having a cough can send you home from work, leaving you unemployed for weeks at a time, it is important to understand the cause of this, and many other, auto-immune responses.

The CDC lists the most common symptoms of COVID-19 as

• Fever
• Tiredness
• Dry Cough

With slightly less common symptoms including:

• Aches and Pains
• Nasal Congestion
• Runny Nose
• Sore Throat
• Diarrhea

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

These symptoms can help one determine if they should get tested for COVID-19, however these symptoms are not uncommon for thousands of other reasons besides COVID, including mold contamination.

The most common symptoms of mold contamination are:

• Fever
• Tiredness
• Cough

With slightly less common symptoms including

• Headache
• Stuffy/Runny Nose
• Difficulty Breathing
• Muscle Aches
• Cold and Flu Like Symptoms

From looking at these symptoms, its quite obvious there are similarities between the two. The question remains however, how can you tell them apart and more importantly, what should you do if you have them? According to the CDC, there is a list of things one should do if they find themselves with one or more of these symptoms:

1. Monitor them: Keep track of how you feel on a daily basis. Ask yourself, are they getting worse, better, staying the same?
2. Talk to an expert: Whether the expert is your primary care physician or a certified mold inspector, it is important to talk to someone who knows what they are talking about.
3. Schedule a test: If your symptoms don’t seem to reside, speak to your doctor and/or your mold specialist about setting up either a test for coronavirus or in-home mold tests. Getting tested for both COVID and mold is the most accurate way to determine whether or not you are at risk.

If it is determined that you tested positive for COVID-19, you will be instructed to self-isolate as much as possible, including using separate bedrooms and bathrooms from other members in your home; in addition to seeking care if the symptoms intensify.

If it is determined that your home has tested positive for mold contamination, you will be instructed to:

• Depending on the severity, you may be asked to leave the property to prevent worsening of the symptoms.
• A mold remediation will be required in which a mold specialist will use special equipment and sanitation methods to rid your home of the mold.
• A post remediation verification test will be taken to ensure all the mold has been removed and it is safe to return to the property.

Both COVID-19 as well as mold affect the respiratory system in a way that induces these auto-immune responses. During this time of isolation and quarantine, it is even more essential to get your home tested for mold contamination so not to worsen any symptoms that may occur if one was to contract the Coronavirus.

For more information on Covid-19, mold inspections, or any other inquiries, please call our number at (954)-850-6653 or email Office@moldrus.net to request a quote.