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David Fost, an allergist and immunologist in Verona, New Jersey. It seems I'm living in the ideal breeding ground for all types of mold, from Aspergillus-the most common cause of respiratory disease-to Cladosporium, a fungus often involved in skin and nail infections.

"They can aggravate typical allergy symptoms like stuffiness, wheezing, and skin and eye irritation," Dr. Fost said. The remedy: We'll need to plug up the leak for good (if that's possible), clean the area with a bleach solution, and keep the humidity low (between 40 and 60 percent) by using a dehumidifier and/or an air conditioner (which also removes moisture from the air).

Say sayonara to dust mites Next on the hit list is dust mites, which excrete a protein in their feces that can trigger sneezing and a runny nose. You can't see them, but Dr. Fost knows they're there-mainly because I haven't taken any precautions to keep them out.

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