Cockroaches Cause Indoor Air Pollution and Spread Allergens
Although most people consider cockroaches pesky little critters that they would rather not find around the house, cockroaches have been known to cause deeper issues that can affect a family’s health for the worse.
Cockroaches and Asthma
It’s true! Droppings or body parts of cockroaches have been known to trigger asthma attacks, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Because certain proteins are found in cockroach droppings and saliva, it can lead to a number of allergic reactions, especially in asthma sufferers.
A basic allergy to cockroaches is more common than many people think. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, a whopping 23% to 60% of urban residents who have asthma are sensitive to allergens produced by cockroaches.
Unfortunately, nearly 75% of urban homes have cockroaches. Once infested, a single home could have up to 300,000 cockroaches that require extermination. Many times, when a cockroach is seen in a kitchen, exterminators assume that up to 800 cockroaches are hidden in other places, like closets, sinks, and bathrooms.
Clearly, allergies triggered by cockroaches in a home are a serious issue for people who live in a crowded city or the South. For children or adults with severe bronchial asthma, they are most likely to be affected by a cockroach allergy. Other allergy sufferers with skin rashes, sinus infections, stuffy noses, and ear infections may also experience symptoms related to a cockroach allergy.
How to Avoid an Allergy Attack Triggered by Cockroaches
Cockroaches are resilient creatures that are normally the cause of indoor air pollution in infested homes. At the first sign of a cockroach, it’s critical to call an expert exterminator to find the source of the issue and get rid of any cockroaches hidden in the walls or other areas of a house.
Additionally, it’s important to keep your home clean by wiping countertops and vacuuming regularly. Small allergens that have been spread by family pets can float in the air for hours at a time; however, allergy particles from cockroaches are larger and will settle on surfaces and floors more quickly.
After using an exterminator to treat a cockroach infestation, it helps to vacuum regularly to remove allergens deposited by cockroaches. For children with extreme allergies or asthma, an air purifier may be necessary to neutralize air pollution and help eliminate any indoor airborne allergens spread by pests in the house.
Although a cockroach allergy may be difficult to diagnose, an asthma patient experiencing frequent attacks should explore this option first of all – after contacting an Alabama pest control to get rid of the roach infestation.