Cockroaches Can Trigger Asthma?!
My son’s chronic cough led us to a trip to the allergist for allergy testing. During our appointment, I was shocked to learn that on a list of 30 environmental allergens, cockroaches were the ONLY insect on the list along with grass and trees. This promoted me to do further research and I was both surprised (and utterly disgusted) by what I found.
While they do not bite or sting, they contaminate food as well as areas where food is prepared. The thought of making my kids’ lunch boxes on a surface where a cockroach may have crawled while we slept made me feel sick.
Roaches can spread bacteria including salmonella, strep and staph, and they have been linked to health problems including asthma. The saliva, feces and shedding of cockroaches can trigger both asthma and allergies. These allergens act like dust mites, aggravating symptoms and can easily become airborne. In many cases with cockroach allergens, these symptoms become chronic, lasting beyond typical seasonal allergies. Symptoms can present themselves as: difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, nasal congestion, skin rashes, reoccurring ear infections, chronic sinus infections, as well as itchy eyes, nose and throat.
What we learned about these little pests was not only eye opening, but we knew we had to take the extra steps to prevent this allergen from entering our home. Not just because roaches gross me out, but for actual health concerns as well.
Cockroaches have been on Earth over 300 million years, which tells me they’re not the easiest creature to get rid of. They have proven to be incredibly resilient.
So how do we eliminate and prevent this allergen from entering our home?
• Clean kitchen floors, sinks, counters and stoves regularly.
• Keep food containers and garbage cans sealed.
• Fix any leaks that could unknowingly give cockroaches access to water.
• Be sure that no plumbing in the household runs dry (IE. the guest bathtub). When these lines run dry, they will leave open lines to the sewer for cockroaches to come right on up. Running water through the drains, just a few times a week, can help keep water in the pipes and prevent them from entering through the dry drains.
• Consult a pest control company.
When it comes to allergies, asthma, and my family’s overall health, it’s a priority for me to use the lowest impact pest control options around our home. It’s important to enlist the help of a knowledgeable professional that can tailor a prevention or elimination plan to suit your specific needs.
If you have concerns about using over the counter products, or if anyone in the house has asthma, a weak immune system or a reoccurring health concern; Chem-Free Pest & Lawn has your cockroach solution.
During pest control inspections and treatment, a trained professional will:
• Assess the nature and extent of your cockroach problem.
• Determine the best plan of action, customized to your specific pest control needs.
• Treat your home, which includes closing off possible pest entry and exit points.
• Determine if there are conditions in your yard that are attractive to pests.
• Apply pest control treatments where necessary.
Chem-Free will assist with follow-up treatments and a customized prevention plan to make sure that your unwanted guests won’t return.
