Asthma and Allergies - The Hidden Cockroach Allergen in the Home

Asthma and Allergies – The Hidden Cockroach Allergen in the Home

Cockroaches can be quite troublesome when it comes to invading your personal space and simply making the living conditions in your house look shabby and unkempt.

However, the real trouble lies in the diseases and allergies that these critters are capable of causing and this is where you need to know more about roaches.

Allergies are the body’s reactions to certain materials or components and when it comes to cockroaches, these critters sure have plenty of proteins in their saliva, their feces, and even the skin they shed that some humans may be highly allergic to.

These cockroach allergens create untoward reactions in the bodies of some humans where the white blood cells overreact to the proteins present in the allergens as they would to maybe harmful bacteria. When these WBCs launch an attack against these allergens, the reactions that are then caused in the body are what the symptoms of allergies are.

In some cases, the cockroach’s saliva, feces, and skin needs to come in contact with the human body. In other cases, even the remnants of these elements when left on the kitchen counter or dining table, or any other surface can cause allergic reactions.

Asthma attacks are a specific possibility too, and numbers released by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America even suggest that around 23-60% of asthma patients who are residents of urban areas are allergic to cockroach allergens.

Some of the most dangerous reactions include Anaphylaxis, a condition that induces several serious symptoms such as the lowering of blood pressure, shock and difficulty in breathing.

While there’s no doubt that some allergic reactions are directly linked to cockroaches, it does indeed pay to make sure that these critters are kept away from your living quarters.