What is mold? What are the manifestations of allergy? Fungi are the most widely distributed class of organisms in nature, the main way of life is saprophytic or parasitic, there are about 80,000 to 120,000 species around the world, and about 40,000 species in China. Everyday consumption of mushrooms, fungus, silver fungus, Chinese medicine, Ganoderma lucidum, Poria, yeast for brewing, pasta, wine bending, penicillin-producing Penicillium, etc., all belong to fungi. Mold is a kind of fungus, is the common name of filamentous fungi. It is extremely common in daily life, such as moldy vegetables and fruits, dark and damp walls and eaves, etc. The basic unit of mold is mycelium, about 3 to 10 microns in diameter, mycelium can elongate and produce branching, many branching mycelium intertwined together to form mycelium, a large number of aerial mycelium specialization and into substrates, the latter can produce spores. Spores are the main way for the fungus to reproduce, somewhat like the seeds of plants, but in extremely large numbers and very small size. Both mycelium and spores are antigenic, with the latter being stronger, especially for spores under 10 microns in diameter. Common allergenic molds are cross-streptomycetes, bacteriophages, Aspergillus, Candida, etc. The process of human contact with mold, that is, the process of mold sensitization of the human body, including inhalation, ingestion, contact and injection, with inhalation as the most important. Because the spores are very small and light, visible under the microscope, can be freely dispersed in the air, mold allergy can induce symptoms after inhalation, such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal itching, nasal congestion, chest tightness, cough, and even asthma. A small number of patients also show eye symptoms (itchy eyes, tearing, irritation, etc.), skin symptoms (itchy skin, rash, burning, irritation, etc.) or gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, hyperactive bowel sounds, etc.). Yin Jia, Department of Allergic reactions, Peking Union Medical College Hospital Which seasons and areas have more molds? Mold is easy to grow in a humid, warm environment, with an optimum temperature of 18-32°C and an optimum relative humidity of 65% or more. So the distribution has a certain seasonality and regional. Such as hot summer, excessive heating of the house in winter, hot and humid coastal areas. Which places in the home more mold? Floor (or carpet), bathroom or kitchen floor, wall, basement floor, wall, air conditioner filter, humidifier, refrigerator water container, clothes and bedding not dried, shower curtain, curtains, food or fruit scraps left indoors for a long time, etc. Friends who like to raise flowers note that the soil of potted plants is also a place where mold can easily grow. How to control indoor mold? Mold like heat and humidity, as long as the control of indoor temperature and humidity, mold is not easy to grow naturally. Specific measures are as follows: 1, open more windows in summer, keep indoor and outdoor air circulation, if necessary, you can use dehumidifiers to control humidity below 50%, or often use activated carbon to keep your home dry; avoid excessive heating in winter; 2, use vacuum cleaners with suitable filters; 3, avoid using carpets and upholstery, if used should be careful to avoid moisture. 4.Clothing should be dried completely before putting away, and bedding should be turned over regularly; moldy books, newspapers and clothes should be removed in time. 5, indoor and balcony try not to put potted plants, the damp soil may hide a lot of mold. 6, garbage cans should be placed outdoors, clean the garbage in the kitchen and other places in time every day, keep the kitchen dry to avoid the growth of mold. 7, for the bathroom, kitchen and other places that are not easy to keep dry, you can use 60 ° C hot water to clean, inhibit the growth of mold; 8, regular hot water cleaning curtains, shower curtains; 9, air conditioning unit storage water and the temperature is appropriate, will become some bacteria, mold breeding habitat, should be regularly cleaned, replace the air conditioner, air filter screen; 10, regular defrosting of the refrigerator, cleaning and keep dry, keep 11, walls, ceilings found on the large mold, you can use waterproof, mold-resistant latex paint to repaint. In addition to mold allergy patients do a good job of mold control in the family room, should also try to avoid the following environments: 1, indoor swimming pools, steam baths; 2, greenhouses and more places with dead grass; 3, basements, dark and damp rooms; 4, the old house demolition; 5, the rainy season in the forest, grasslands, etc.