Mold battles drive awareness: Northshore teen's illness and a CDC study
A CDC study suggests invasive mold infections may be more common than thought, with about 450 cases detected in Atlanta-area hospitals over five years and roughly one-third of patients dying in the hospital; hospitals may expect 3 to 5 cases per year for every 100 inpatient beds and most patients had compromised immune systems. In Mandeville, 19-year-old Elaina Faler has battled mold-related illness for four years after mold was found in her Covington-area home. She experienced fatigue, brain fog, rashes and GI issues, and initial doctors dismissed her symptoms until mold exposure and a diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome tied to environmental triggers emerged. She’s now receiving treatment in Florida and plans to start her sophomore year at the University of Alabama, as her family urges others to inspect homes for mold and notes that insurance may not cover such treatments.