Physician Discusses SARS and Mold During Osteopathic Medical Convention

10/14/2003

From: Mike Campea of the American Osteopathic Association, 312-202-8043; 800-621-1773, ext. 8043

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 14 -- With uncertainty surrounding the future impact of SARS and recent media attention on mold being blamed for sickness, Lauren Ball, D.O., M.P.H., presented a talk entitled "Hot Topics in the News" at the American Osteopathic Association's (AOA) 108th annual Convention and Scientific Seminar. The convention is being held through Thursday in New Orleans.

Dr. Ball, vice-chair of the Division of Public Health and General Preventive Medicine of the American Osteopathic College of Occupational and Preventive Medicine, reviewed statistics from the 2003 SARS outbreak and discussed the diagnostic criteria and infection control practices which will help physicians recognize cases and prevent transmission in their communities.

Dr. Ball also pointed out how the general population can practice prevention. "Though most of the cases in the U.S. were among travelers returning from other parts of the world with SARS, people here and abroad should always practice good hygiene, such as hand washing, because SARS can be spread through close person-to-person contact."

Dr. Ball, a medical epidemiologist with Indoor Air Solutions, of Tampa, Fla., which provides indoor air quality consulting services, also addressed the facts and myths surrounding the relationship between molds and illness. She revealed that molds grow within facilities with water intrusion problems and can be detected on construction materials and in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

Dr. Ball urged her colleagues to take seriously patients who come to them suspecting they might have gotten sick from exposure to mold and provided participants with sources and references for up to date clinical and public health information.

In counterpoint, Dr. Ball noted that people tend to misinterpret the threat of mold based on stories they have heard in the news. "We do need to prevent exposure and we need to treat our patients," she noted. "However, not all molds are toxic, and not all toxic molds are actually producing toxins."

The AOA represents approximately 52,000 D.O.s, promotes public health, encourages scientific research, serves as the primary certifying body for D.O.s, and is the accrediting agency for all osteopathic medical schools and health care facilities.