Important information on cockroaches. Cockroaches can affect ashmatic patients. Cockroaches are probably our most despised pest. Some of the negative image is not without reason. Cockroaches have been linked...
Cockroaches are probably our most despised pest. Some of the negative image is not without reason. Cockroaches have been linked to asthma problems, especially in children.
According to Stoy Hedges, an entomologist and Director of Technical Services for Terminix International, "In city areas where there are a lot of cockroaches, people have a lot of money to spend on getting pest control services. The cockroaches can have an adverse effect as far as allergies. The German cockroach can release allergens that people with asthma or skin problems cannot handle."
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences website, http://www.niehs.nih.gov/airborne/prevent/roach.html, says, "Recent studies have found a strong association between the presence of cockroaches and increases in the severity of asthma symptoms in individuals who are sensitive to cockroach allergens. The proteins found in cockroach saliva are particularly allergenic but the body and droppings of cockroaches also contain allergenic proteins."
A National Institutes of Health study at http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/may97/niaid 7a.htm, states, "Some of the most vulnerable of our citizens, children in the poorest neighborhoods of our large cities, suffer disproportionately from asthma," says Anthony S. Fauci, M. D., NIAID [National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases] director. "Allergy and exposure to cockroach allergen clearly play an important role in the alarming rates of asthma-related sickness among children."
"[The study] found that children who were both allergic to cockroaches and exposed to high cockroach allergen levels were hospitalized for their asthma 3.3 times more often than children who were allergic but not exposed to high levels of cockroach allergen, or children who were exposed to high levels of cockroach allergen but who were not allergic."
The study also found that children with the allergy who were exposed to the allergen from cockroaches also missed school more often, needed nearly twice as many unscheduled asthma-related medical visits, and suffered from sleep loss.
The seriousness of the situation is especially telling in the following statistic from the study, "Despite the availability of effective asthma therapies, asthma-related deaths among individuals younger than 25 in the United States increased 118 percent between 1980 and 1993."
The Environmental Protection Agency suggests taking steps to prevent infestation, such as keeping food in sealed containers, keeping garbage in containers with tightly fitting lids, keep spills and crumbs wiped up, and sealing all cracks, crevices and such to bar entry to the insects. Fix any plumbing problems and leaks. Remove piles of papers, boxes or other items that provide hiding places for the cockroaches. They also recommend if spraying is done to combat the roach population, that the affected individual is not exposed to the spray and doesn't return to area treated until it has been thoroughly aired out. Also, spray only affected areas, and avoid spraying places where children sleep or food preparation areas.
Cockroaches are more than just pesky pests, they pose a real health danger to many people, especially children. If a family member is showing signs of respiratory distress, such as persistent coughing, especially at night time, tightness in the chest, and wheezing, investigate whether cockroaches may be involved in any worsening of symptoms. Set out sticky traps to confirm the presence and population levels in your home, then consult a professional if the evidence points to infestation.
