Family Keeps Getting Sick In House...any Ideas?
Here's an interesting one for everybody. My step-mother keeps visiting her sister and husband, and two kids in their Delaware home. She is never sick, but everytime she goes over there she comes back and literally is in bed and sick for a day or two. They have two kids, one a year or so old and the other like 2-3 months. Everyone tells me the kids always seem to be sick also, the littlest one, a couple days ago was so sick he was projectile vomiting. Not pleasant I realize, but I keep wondering if it is something in the house. My father doesn't get sick from being around her and neither do any of us, she only gets sick when she heads over there. Also, others who have been to the house have gotten sick too. It's a nice house, an older house, but nice area...so I keep thinking it's something to do with the house. Any ideas? Does mold do something like this or is there something they should check, etc?
The baby hasn't turned her head all away around, so I am ruling out a poltergiest 
[addsig]
Christian,
I have heard (only in the news) of people who get violently sick due to the mold. Not that the mold is the only problem, but that the person also has allergies to mold.
Robert
This does occur somewhat in older houses in the more settled portions of the East and your area sure qualifies. I suggest you contact your local health officer and see if the good Doctor can suggest a proper inspection.
I had a similar occurance in Europe, the entire time I was staying at this pension I was on the verge of illness. Everybody else there was always sick. Mostly various types of bronchial infections.
My answer was heavy doses of a high alchoholic drink. It worked, but I had to leave as I kept telling the wife the truth about her cooking, her looks and her general temperment. A gentlemen would merely have accepted the on going illness and kept quiet. I could not it was foreign to my nature. No I did not go back for her funeral. My lesson was learned.
Lucius
You have the best stories, Lufos.
Quote:
On 2004-07-03 00:13, Lufos wrote:
My answer was heavy doses of a high alchoholic drink. It worked, but I had to leave as I kept telling the wife the truth about her cooking, her looks and her general temperment. A gentlemen would merely have accepted the on going illness and kept quiet. I could not it was foreign to my nature. No I did not go back for her funeral. My lesson was learned.
Lucius
Did you marry the buxom barmaid
robert
I too get sick if I spend an extended amount of time at one of my relatives houses in a damp area of the states. I think it is mold and my illness is always respiratory (asthma) I never get it anywhere else
I think an ionizer would do the trick but they seem to be fine, just me that has the problem 
I serious doubt that its a mold issue. Stachybotrys is the mold that you should be most worried about. However, if that was the case someone who got sick due to the mold problem outside the house would continue to have symptoms months and possibly years after. The best case would be to contact a local environmental firm to conduct a Indoor Air Quality assessment. That can range between 500 to 2500$. That can rule out any mold issues that may or may not exist. Their are two other concerns that may be the problem. One possible cause is an external environmental factor. I would ask the neighbors if they have noticed any similiar problems, if so you should move and contact an environmental lawer. Secondly it may be a heavy metal problem inside or around the house. A mercury spill from a broken thermometer could easily be the culprit. A full blood work up by your health care provider can address issue. If none of these issues address the problem then its either a psychological problem or seasonal problems. Then again maybe you should just change the air filter.
Legal caution would probably dictate your spending whatever you have to to have the RE checked by licensed inspector and getting a certificate from him/them that your property is now clean.
Second, I'd make it a point to openly disclose to anybody looking to rent or buy that this has happened, but show them your proof of "now-clean & clear".
Maybe you'd never need this, but if you don't do this, and then get sued for $...million, because somebody claims he/she got sick there, or somebody died because of contaminated property...then you'll be the one sick and killed because you hadn't donned the armor availed you !
John M