Ask Dr Gary: Growth of fungus can be treated

Approximately 10 minutes after entering the study in my house, my throat constricts and I get a tightness in my chest that feels a bit like asthma. This leads to coughing. The symptoms abate 30 minutes after I leave the room. My wife has exactly the same response. The two things I have considered are the carpet and mould. The carpet is a relatively new nylon weave. Could it be harbouring some sort of bug? The other possibility is mould in the wall space or perhaps under the carpet. Is there a test that can identify if mould spores are present? - M.B. (edited)

Mould is fascinating stuff. Most is harmless but it is capable of travelling deep into our lungs and causing hypersensitivity in susceptible people. It is a known asthma trigger.

Number one, ditch the ioniser. They don't work anywhere near as well as we've been led to believe. HEPA filters do work, though, if the capacity is sufficient and the filters kept clean. Suck up those spores and trap them.

Dehumidify the house. Fireplaces do this but even the best ones spew particulate debris into the home and can trigger asthma attacks, so avoid them if possible. The only viable option is a dehumidifier, again of sufficient capacity, and kept scrupulously clean.

If there's a visible mould colony, you've got a problem.

Wash the area with dilute bleach to kill spores, ventilate the area to get rid of moisture, and fix any condensation problems. Remove the carbon source (rotting wood, wet carpet backing, etc).

Talk to your doctor about asthma testing, and perhaps trialing a salbutamol inhaler. Salbutamol is the mainstay treatment for asthma; a trial of it can also help doctors diagnose asthma.

If a few puffs of your inhaler promptly improves your symptoms, you've got an element of reversible bronchospasm. If the puffer does nothing, it suggests asthma-like bronchospasm is not the culprit.

Mould experts may ultimately prove helpful to you, but remember they're working under a conflict of interest. Good luck, and let me know how it goes.