Mold

Mold or mildew is a type of fungi that grows and spreads on damp or decaying organic substances indoors or outdoors in multicellular structures called hyphae. It is a highly invasive and extremely adaptable microorganism emitting dusty clouds of toxic spores or growing volatile buds. Certain molds are toxigenic, they produce toxic compounds called mycotoxins and are more dangerous than others. Mold harms the health of both people and animals, and the comfort of living. It may cause a lot of diseases, allergic reactions, asthma, dermal infections, diseases of organs, including the central nervous system, meningitis, and even death.

Mold is found both indoors and outdoors in the air, on surfaces, wood, clothes, carpets, food, in ventilation and air conditioning systems, etc. Many building materials include nutrients that encourage mold growth. It can enter the home with the air from the outside or be carried by pets, on shoes, bags, or clothing, stains on surfaces, objects, walls, ceilings, and can produce unpleasant odor in the premises. Mold spores multiply and grow in areas with excessive moisture, in covered and poorly ventilated premises, on wet walls, floors, tiles, places of flooding or leaks of pipes or roofs. Natural materials like paper, wallpaper, leather, and textiles are especially vulnerable to moisture. The situation is made worse by often mold is hidden behind furniture and wallpapers, and is detected late, when it has already spread a lot and caused some harm.

There are numerous types of molds in the environment, which lives on the Earth for millions of years. New types also constantly appear and are discovered. The mold spores contain fungal secondary metabolites that determine different colors of mold because hyphae themselves are colorless, seem like very fine fluffy threads, and are hardly noticeable, especially on food. However, color is not an indication of how dangerous mold is.

Mold causes biodegradation of natural materials, damage to personal items, food spoilage, and a variety of negative health effects for humans and animals. The most common symptoms of mold infection in humans are stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, wheezing, fever, shortness of breath, red or itchy eyes, burning eyes, skin rashes, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, joint aches, chest pain, fatigue, vomiting, weight loss, tissue swelling.

Mold is especially harmful to people sensitive to it, for example, who have respiratory diseases, allergies, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, people with a weak immune system, and the elderly. Mold may cause intense reactions in them, up to shortness of breath and fever.

A common way of infection is through breathing the microscopic fungal spores from the air, which then spread through the bloodstream within the organism to various organs, bones, joints, the central nervous system. Also, the infection with some molds occurs through the direct contact of skin or nails with fungal spores.

Example 1. Medical Mycology — Mold

It is important to know that the problem of mold cannot go away on its own, it should be removed and then prevented from reappearing. In order to cope with mold, inspect buildings for water damage and visible mold regularly, control humidity, detect areas where condensation is present, fix timely any leaks, and ventilate premises obligatory. Clean up and dry out thoroughly and quickly after any flooding. Regular monitoring of humidity and temperature prevents mold growth indoors. Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier to keep the humidity level low, because overdried air is also damaging to the health of people, animals, and plants.

Sometimes, building defects are the cause of mold and then only experts can help to solve the problem. However, basic daily activities are also a source of excessive humidity. A lot of water is released into the air when drying clothes, cooking, showering, bathing, etc.

The disinfection of surfaces with bleach is an effective way to clean up the mold. However, it requires special attentiveness and accuracy. You should use protective gloves and goggles, protective clothing, and waterproof shoes during the cleanup of affected areas. Open windows and doors to provide fresh air and never mix bleach with household cleaners, this may lead to producing poisonous gases. If the mold on the fabric, carpet, furniture or other items isn't cleaned, call a professional cleaning service or throw that item away, because the potential risk of negative mold effects is extremal.

At the same time, some molds are useful and play important roles in biotechnology, food and beverage production (baking, cheesemaking, brewing, fermenting wine and rice sake), pharmaceutical industry to produce antibiotics and enzymes.

Example 2. Mold Cleanup

The ConceptDraw's Medical Mycology solution is the best assistant to illustrate all useful information about mold: types and most dangerous types, ways of infection, at-risk groups to mold infection, common symptoms, harmful effects, possible complications, effective ways to control mold and remove it from surfaces, protect yourself and your family and prevent infection, latest research and ways to treat diseases caused by mold in people and animals.

Medical Mycology solution includes a collection of professionally designed medical mycology samples and 17 libraries with 365 vector design objects, clipart and pictograms from a subject area:

Example 3. Mold Protective Wear

The mycology infographics you see on this page were created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software using the Medical Mycology Solution. They successfully demonstrate the solution's capabilities and the professional results you can achieve. An experienced user spent 10-15 minutes creating each of these samples.

Use the powerful tools of the Medical Mycology Solution for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software to create your own infographics and diagrams of any complexity fast and easy, and then successfully use them in your work activity.

All source documents are vector graphic documents. They are available for reviewing, modifying, or converting to a variety of formats (PDF file, MS PowerPoint, MS Visio, and many more graphic formats) from the ConceptDraw STORE. The Medical Mycology Solution is available for all ConceptDraw DIAGRAM users.