The services of an expert mycologist can be invaluable in the diagnosis of mold allergy, according to Mayer A. Green, MD, of Pittsburgh, who addressed the American College of Allergy meeting in Bal Harbour, Fla, Mar 1-6.
When faced with a suspected case of mold allergy, it is essential that the physician, in addition to making mold sensitization studies, know the atmospheric mold content of the area in which the patient resides. At this point, the mycologist's services are useful, he said.
In the United States, reference is often made to the so-called atmospheric X factors, which do not coincide with identifiable pollens. "The probability is that some of the seasonal and post-seasonal respiratory allergic symptoms may be due to molds."
Only recently, he said, have allergists been made aware of the role of molds in producing allergies. Much of the identification and classification of molds has been carried out