Air Purifier News: Can Cockroach Debris Worsen Your Allergies?

Cockroaches are a common insect infestation found in American homes and buildings. Traditionally, cockroaches were eliminated because they were offensive and caused gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses, but cockroach debris such as old shells, saliva, body parts, and droppings can also cause a range of health problems. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), cockroaches are one of the most common and allergenic of indoor pests, with recent studies showing that there is a strong correlation between the presence of cockroaches and increases in the severity of asthma and allergy symptoms in those sensitive to cockroach allergens and debris. In fact, the NIEHS states that cockroach debris is more likely to trigger asthma attacks than cat dander.

In the United States alone, 17 to 41 percent of people are allergic to cockroaches, with even greater numbers found in the inner cities. In addition to exacerbating asthma and allergy symptoms, cockroach debris can cause sneezing, chest pain, and conjunctivitis. In extreme cases, exposure to cockroach debris can even lead to a potentially life-threatening reaction called anaphylactic shock - a severe type of allergy reaction which involves two or more body systems, including a drop in blood pressure.

However, although cockroaches may be more prevalent in urban areas, older dwellings, and inner cities, these pests are common in even the cleanest and most immaculate homes, or wherever there is any type of food or moisture. Due to the presence of food and moisture, kitchens and bathrooms usually have some of the highest number of cockroaches, and once a cockroach infestation has taken place, getting rid of the insects and their debris can be quite a chore.

Cockroaches do not necessarily need to be actively present for their debris to do damage. Day-to-day activities such as carrying grocery bags and returning from trips can also bring cockroaches, eggs, and their debris into a home. Also, it should be noted that cockroaches tend to live in groups. If you notice one in your kitchen, there is a good chance that there can be 800 or more other cockroaches roaming around in various locations of your home.

While the best way to reduce cockroach debris is to avoid the allergen altogether, extensive extermination, as well as thorough and repeated cleanings, can eliminate a good amount of the nasty pollutant. However, for those living in apartments, removing cockroach debris may be a bit more difficult, as cockroaches can roam from one apartment to the next and will return to an exterminated area once pesticides wear off.

To eliminate cockroach debris, you must also eliminate the three main sources of cockroach allergens: cockroaches and their food sources; warm and moist environments; and dust. Be sure to store food and garbage in tight-lidded containers and clean crumbs immediately. Plug crevices around your home and repair leaky drain pipes or faucets. Cleaning cockroach debris can also involve steam cleaning rugs, carpet and furniture; vacuuming; installing furnace filters in your heating and cooling system; and even utilizing some kind of HEPA air purifier in areas where you may suspect especially high concentrations of cockroach debris.