Weekly attacks: Katie Fant experienced severe allergic reactions to mould As the autumn damp sets in, the temptation is to stay inside and turn up the radiator. But if there's not enough ventilation, you could be creating the perfect environment for mould to grow. Mould can trigger breathing problems and may even, in rare cases, be life-threatening - as Katie Fant discovered. Last November, the 17-year-old was at school when she suddenly started struggling to breathe. 'I was sitting in class and my throat began to close up and then my tongue started to swell - I ran to the first aid room,' recalls Katie who lives in Bexley, Kent, with her mother Roberta, 43, a teacher, stepfather Gary, 40, a cab driver, and younger siblings, Rachel and Daniel.
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Mould spores can cause nasal stuffiness, itchy eyes, coughing, eczema
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4% of the population reacts to the spores, which can cause lung damage
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Mould thrives in the damp; if your house is tepid, mould will grow there
'@placeholder thrives in damp, moist, tepid conditions, indoors and out.