Cladosporium herbarum Allergen Facts, Symptoms, and Treatment
Learn more about common allergic diseases, symptoms, management paradigms, and testing considerations.
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Get detailed information on whole allergens and allergen components.
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Learn more about common allergic diseases, symptoms, management paradigms, and testing considerations.
Is your patient a candidate for specific IgE testing?
Get detailed information on whole allergens and allergen components.
Ready to test a patient?
Cladosporium is a major source of inhaled mold allergy, which means those sensitized to C. herbarum may experience symptoms after breathing in its spores.1,2 While it's considered a seasonal outdoor mold and is found worldwide mainly on plants, in soil, and on food, it can also colonize a host of indoor surfaces.3-5 In fact, Cladosporium is among the top three most common indoor airborne fungi (along with Penicillium and Aspergillus). That said, indoor concentrations of this mold seem to increase in conjunction with rising outdoor concentrations.6
Relatively slow growing, Cladosporium displays a variety of colors, including olive-brown, black-brown, brown, buff, and gray.7 Production of its comparatively dry spores typically peak in the afternoon, which may increase outdoor exposure symptoms.8 In terms of prevalence, studies vary widely, but one skin test study revealed an allergic reaction in 42 percent of children under age 4.9
Although Cladosporium species are abundant globally, they are dominant in temperate climates.14 For Cladosporium herbarum, the optimal temperature for growth is 18 to 28 C (roughly 64 to 82 F), but it can grow below 0 C (32 F) and can even live on frozen meat.9 Found mainly on plants, in soil, and on food, C. herbarum can also colonize a host of indoor surfaces such as window panes and insulation in heating and cooling systems.3,5 That's because mold reproduces via spores, which can be transported by air, water, and insects.10,15 So even if a fungus originates outdoors, it often can enter a dwelling through a variety of means, including doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems.16
While this mold can be clearly visible at times, at other times its undetectable by the naked eye. It can often be found in bathrooms and basements and on surfaces such as fabrics, wood, wallpaper, carpets, rugs, windowsills, grills, upholstered furniture, faucets, and curtains. Cladosporium is extremely widespread indoors, for according to some air-pollution studies, all tested homes in Canada contained Cladosporium spores, as did 70 percent of similarly tested U.S. homes.9
Some people with Cladosporium herbarum allergy may also experience symptoms when exposed to other types of mold. This is called cross-reactivity and occurs when your body's immune system identifies the proteins, or components, in different substances as being structurally similar or biologically related, thus triggering a response.6
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If you are allergic to mold, your healthcare provider may recommend a plan that includes the following.2,10,18,19
Your healthcare provider may direct you to take one of the following medications to improve your allergy symptoms:
Mold allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe and vary person to person.2 Reactions can happen almost immediately after exposure, or they can be delayed. Symptoms are most common in mid-summer to early fall, but since molds grow both indoors and out, allergic reactions can occur all year.10
Symptoms typically include one or more of the following:2,11
Mold sensitization is also a major risk factor for developing upper and lower respiratory diseases such as allergic rhinitis (aka hay fever) and allergic asthma.4,12
A small percentage of asthmatics with inhaled mold allergy can also develop allergic urticaria (aka hives) when they eat or drink anything containing yeast or mold.13 In addition to causing allergic reactions, molds can lead to infections along with toxic reactions.3
Together with your symptom history, skin-prick testing or specific IgE blood testing can help determine if you are allergic to a particular allergen. If you are diagnosed with an allergy, your healthcare provider will work with you to create a management plan.
*These products may not be approved for clinical use in your country. Please work with your healthcare provider to understand availability.
There are no credible reports in medical literature documenting indoor exposure to molds as a cause of anaphylaxis.17 However, exposure and sensitization to fungal allergens can promote the development and worsening of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma.6