The following is taken from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology website:

Children who live in damp, water-damaged homes may be more likely than other kids to develop nasal allergies, according to a population-based prospective cohort study in American Journal of Epidemiology. Researchers at the Institute of Health Sciences in Oulu, Finland, followed 1,863 children (who were 1 to 7 years old at baseline) from Espoo, Finland, for six years.

Among the children whose parents reported dampness in the home, 16 percent went on to be diagnosed with allergic rhinitis during the next six years, compared with just under 12 percent of children whose parents reported no dampness.  Those whose parents reported any mold or water damage in the home at study outset were 55 percent more likely than other children to develop allergic rhinitis.

Dr. Irena Veksler of Allergy & Asthma care of Fairfield County points out that dampness promotes the growth of mold and dust mites. “It is important to dry up any moisture and eliminate the souce of water in the home. If allergic nasal symptoms or asthma develop, consider seeking an allergist for testing and appropriate treatment.”