Medica Pura
Home Health & Wellbeing Lifestyle Relationships Health News

Common Asthma Trigger #3: Cockroaches

Cockroach allergens have become an important public health problem in recent decades, especially in inner-city homes and schools. Their allergens are found in saliva, faecal material, secretions, cast skins, debris and dead bodies. Cockroach allergens may be more harmful than allergens from dust mites. Controlling and reducing cockroach allergen exposure is difficult and can take many months of treatment.

What can I do?


  • Remove food sources and household food waste.

  • Thoroughly clean infested areas first by general means. Then treat areas with insecticides and pesticides incorporated in gels or baits. Cleaning with sodium hypochlorite (bleach) has also proven helpful. Repeat after 1 or 2 weeks.

  • Remove access to water from leaking taps or condensation on pipes.


What else can I do?


  • Remove and wash bedding, curtains, and clothing.

  • Consider contacting integrated pest management specialists.

  • Protect food sources to reduce risk of reinfestation.


Please note that these recommendations are preliminary and more scientific research is needed.

Most of the above information derives from a published article by asthma specialist Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Dr Wanda Phipatanakul, of Harvard Medical School and attending physician, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.: 'Environmental Factors and Childhood Asthma'. Pediatric Annals, 35:9; September 2006.

Medica Pura

More Health Topics...

  

More Health Topics

 

 

Medica Pura Home

A Multimedia Australia Website
A Multimedia Australia website.

Medica Pura
Copyright © 2008 - 2016 Multimedia Australia Pty. Ltd.
Australian Company Number 096 830 394. All rights reserved.
ABN 78 096 830 394
GPO Box 1626, Brisbane, Qld, 4001, Australia
Contact Us
Terms of use. Disclaimer. Privacy Statement.

 

The information contained on this site is for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for expert medical advice, and does not take your medical history or specific circumstances into consideration. Always seek your doctor's advice if you have a medical or health-related condition. While every effort has been made to ensure that the above information was correct at the time of writing; medical knowledge is constantly being reviewed and updated, and the above information may therefore be superseded by additional knowledge.