Dr Jackson Kung'u- Mold Specialist

Helping People Resolve Mold Problems

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Dr. Jackson Kung’u (PhD)- Mold Specialist.
Phone: 905-290-9101
Mobile: 437-556-0254

Home | Mold Symptoms

Mold Symptoms

Tinea Capitis or Scalp Ringworm

Question: My friend has been to a dermatologist and a family Doctor due to the fact that she was losing hair in large areas of the scalp. I told her maybe it was Ringworm (Tinea Capitis) as I have seen it before in a class I took in Cosmetology. Well the Dermatologist finally told her to stop taking the Griseofulvin that the GP had her on and said it was Alopecia areata. She continued to lose large amounts of hair and is still losing it! Her pathology came back as Fusarium species. So…where did this come from and is it contagious? How is it treated? She was concerned as she lives in a recreational vehicle (RV) that she may have a problem in there or from her boyfriend who lives in a place where the water is really stinky and she has showered there. Please let me know your take on this as the Dermatologist said the water would not affect hair loss but from what I’m reading this fungus can be in water pipes or damp places. Thank you for your time!

 Answer: Tinea capitis (TC) or scalp ringworm is a common dermatophyte infection of the scalp in children. The Fusarium species isolated from your friend’s scalp is highly unlikely the primary cause of the hair loss. Fungi that are well documented as causes of hair loss are species of Trichophyton and Microsporum. They cause a condition referred to as tinea capitis. Although primarily affecting children between the ages of three and seven years of age, tinea capitis also afflicts adults and more commonly women than men. Most cases of tinea capitis are caused by Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton violaceum, and Trichophyton verrucosum.

Tinea capitis is spread via infected persons, shed infected hairs, animal vectors, and fomites.

Black Mold Question

Question: We have black mold in our basement along the wall where water damage occurred 5 years ago. It has been there for some time and the basement smells terribly musty.

I have developed an allergic reaction in my eyes, and my father’s coughing has worsened.

We would like to have the black mold tested as soon as possible. Since the black mold is in the concrete wall, how would we extract samples?

Thank you for your help.

Answer: To get a sample of the black mold, please get clear scotch tape. Cut about 3 inches and stick the tape on the surface with mold. Peel the tape and stick it on a plastic bag (e.g., ziplock bag). Put the sample in an envelope and send it to us by mail or you can bring it to the lab. If the concrete surface is wet, use a cotton swab to get the sample since the mold may not stick to the tape. To use a swab, roll the tip of the swab several times on the surface with visible mold. Put the swab in a plastic bag and mail it to the lab.

If you suspect that you have a serious mold problem, I would suggest you get a professional to come and assess the extent of mold growth, determine the underlying cause(s) and then recommend the best way to remove the mold. You may find a mold testing company near your area listed on the following web pages:

1.  https://drjacksonkungu.com/business-directory/
2.  http://www.moldbacteria.com/servicelist/index.html

PLEASE HELP ME!

Me and my babies have been exposed to Mold Toxins for approximately 5 years (I believe 99% chance that I’m correct). I have all the severe serious level symptoms, plus have been exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning for approximately 8-9 months. I have been deteriorating very quickly. My 2 babies who are Lovebirds also have been deteriorating with severe symptoms which have gone to partially blindness. Please advise me on all the Medical Tests that can be done to confirm and determine my suspicions to Mold Toxin Poisoning Exposure.

Thank you in advance for your quick response as I’m in a desperate need of this information ASAP. I am in a crisis and I have no support. In addition, due to my destabilizing health conditions my finances have been exhausted and I have been unable to work for months or hardly functions at home with no income support.  The Doctors are baffled so I need to inform them what steps to take immediately. Note: EEG, MRI tests have been completed however MRI results are not known at this time and EEG apparently was normal.

Sincerely,
P.S. An elderly woman has already died in this rental unit with similar symptoms. Autopsy results concluded death by natural causes.

Answer: Your story is rather sad. Perhaps the first test that should be performed is to assess the building for both biological and chemical pollutants. While presence of mold does not necessarily mean you have been exposed to mold toxins (mycotoxins), its absence could suggest that the possibility of significant mycotoxin exposure is very low. For medical tests, I would suggest you discuss this with your family doctor or request them to suggest other medical professionals who could help you.

Stachybotrys

Question:  Hello there. I work in a boat and recently we discovered that we had a lot of mould on our ceiling. A company came and tested the mould and it came back to be Stachybotrys or some thing similar (sorry about the spelling…). They are planning to clean the area with air cleaners and filters etc. They say that the mould is only in two of the five crew rooms and nothing in the other rooms. Is it possible to have mould so confined, or is this just my superior’s explanation. Also, I have been living here for the past year. What effect can this mould have on me? Should I be worried about any thing..?? Thank you for your help…, It’s always hard to know the truth when you work in a boat. Every thing goes through the captain, and he decides what we should know.

Again thank you for your time.

 Answer: Yes, it’s Stachybotrys or what the general public refers to as black mould. As, to whether mould can be confined to some areas, yes, it can. Generally, mould, and especially the type that requires excessive moisture such as Stachybotrys will only grow in those areas that are extremely wet.

If you’re not feeling sick, I would think there is no need for you to be worried. Not everybody is susceptible to indoor mould. Also, the effect of indoor mould is only likely to persist if an individual who is susceptible to mould continues to be exposed. Exposure to molds such as Stachybotrys is mainly through inhalation. Fortunately spores of Stachybotrys do not become airborne easily unless they are disturbed.

Basement mold

Question: I suspect we have basement mold. We moved in to our townhouse almost a year ago. In the past several months I have noticed that my daughter’s allergies are acting up a lot more, especially when we are in the basement. I too have been experiencing a lot of congestion and sneezing etc. when in the basement. I can smell a musty smell (nobody else can, but I can) and I cannot locate it. I can’t see mold, I’ve torn apart the house. My only guess is it’s in the carpets or walls. I notice you have a mold test kit to measure mold in the air. How accurate is it at picking up positive results i.e. does there have to be a lot of mold to pick up a positive (as I am the only one who can smell this musty smell so it would have to be a very sensitive test). Do you know of any professional companies that can come in and determine if we have basement mold?

Thank you!

Answer: Thank you for your question regarding basement mold. Our mold test kit is basically a DIY kit using the same air sampling equipment that a professional would use. However, the kit is not intended to replace the services of a professional. By a professional we mean someone qualified who will not just come and take air samples (which anyone can take) but will also troubleshoot the problem and offer solutions even if air samples are negative. By “negative” we mean having very low fungal counts since very rarely would there be no spores in the air at all. Basement mold is very common due the dampness found in most basements.

The equipment samples for airborne spores (and other particulates) and not for Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (MVOCs). These are volatile chemicals produced by the metabolism of fungi and bacteria and are responsible for the musty smell. As for the accuracy of the equipment, there are a number of factors that can influence the results. For example:

  1. The type of mold present: some molds produce spores either enclosed in fruiting structures or in “wet” form which means these kinds of spores do not readily become airborne until disturbed during renovation or when they completely dry out. If these are the dominant types of molds present in your house the air samples could be negative.
  2. The time of sampling: the concentration of airborne spores at time of sampling could be low and hence the results could be misleading.

Basement mold can be controlled by reducing humidity in the basement. You can find professional companies listed on the following web pages http://www.moldbacteriaconsulting.com/business-directory/ and also http://www.moldbacteria.com/servicelist/index.html. You can also give us a call at 905-290-9101 for more information.