A mother spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to rid her home of mold contamination she believed could be affecting her daughter's health, only to make a discovery that left her devastated. Meghan May, a consultant from North Carolina, lives with her husband and three daughters, two of whom are autistic. For years, family life revolved around special needs parenting.
Then her middle daughter, Agnes, began to change. "We bought our home in December 2020," May told Newsweek. "Looking back, symptoms probably started before we realized anything was wrong, but by late 2021 and early 2022 things were clearly changing." May described Agnes as an "incredibly happy, easygoing child" who was witty, funny and thriving as a toddler.
But over time, she said, Agnes began to regress in ways that were impossible to ignore. "Her anxiety became debilitating, she developed OCD-type behaviors, her handwriting noticeably deteriorated, and things she had previously been able to do became difficult," May said. Eventually, Agnes's anxiety became so severe that attending school became a struggle.
The family moved her between schools in search of the right support, but her condition continued to worsen. "I remember visiting family in December 2023 and relatives who hadn't seen her recently being shocked by the difference," May said. "It didn't feel like her anymore.
As her mother, I felt like I had lost my baby." Searching for answers, May and her husband learned about PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), conditions associated with the sudden onset of symptoms including anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors and emotional changes. Some clinicians believe mold-related biotoxins may contribute to inflammation and immune dysfunction in a subset of patients, potentially worsening symptoms. However, evidence remains insufficient to conclude that household biotoxins directly cause PANS or PANDAS, and the relationship remains a source of ongoing debate.
What is well established is that damp, moldy buildings can affect health. The World Health Organization's Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould found consistent links between mold-contaminated homes and increased rates of respiratory symptoms, allergies and asthma. Preventing persistent dampness and microbial growth is considered an important public health measure.
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