Health and Medical Articles

In some neighborhoods in New York City, where many cases of asthma are found, children are often exposed to allergens from cockroaches so that they become very vulnerable to the insect. Cases of asthma in New York City recorded more than 19 percent, or nearly one in five children, while in other cases only settlements reached three percent.
Dense traffic, industrial smoke, and other pollution sources outside the home, has been blamed for respiratory illnesses in the past.
But experts from Columbia University found that children who live in neighborhoods with high asthma prevalence has two times higher likelihood to have antibodies to cockroach proteins in their blood, a sign that they have been exposed to insect and suspected allergy to animal it.
In addition, the homes in the settlements who have asthma, have more allergens produced by cockroaches in household dust.
Asthma cases continue to rise over the last 30 years. This is the most common chronic disease in childhood. City kids who have asthma often associated with many cockroaches can cause allergies.

A total of 23 percent and 60 urban residents with asthma are usually also sensitive to cockroaches.

Cockroach allergens feces believed to originate from saliva and body of the insect itself. Cockroaches live all over the world, from the tropics to the coldest place on earth. Studies show that 78 to 98 percent of urban homes have cockroaches.

Proteins from cockroaches that people breathe can come from several sources, including cockroach saliva, feces, dirty skins, debris and even dead animals.

These proteins could then be allergens that can cause the mucosa, induce allergic reactions and asthma. Allergic reactions and asthma usually occur after inhaling cockroach allergens and can last for hours.

Symptoms can vary, such as itching in the skin, throat, eyes and nose. Symptoms can be more powerful and could worsen if more severe asthma.

Symptoms of asthma are often a problem all year, not just in some seasons. It can be difficult to determine that cockroach allergy is the cause of asthma.

What to do?

If you have asthma, should avoid contact with cockroaches and their droppings. There are several ways you can do,
1. Do not leave food and garbage

2. To control cockroaches, use poison baits, boric acid and traps. Do not use chemicals, because it can irritate allergies and asthma.

3. To manage the sinus and allergy symptoms, use antihistamines, decongestants and anti-inflammatory drugs.Doctors usually will also prescribe anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator if you have asthma.