Cockroaches are insects that have been around for hundreds of millions of years and are well-known pests that infest human dwellings. In addition to carrying various bacteria that can be transmitted to people, there are also cockroach allergens.Cockroaches can also worsen various allergic diseases such asallergic rhinitisandasthma. While there are thousands of species of cockroaches, the American cockroach (scientific namePeriplaneta americana) and German cockroach (scientific nameBlatella germanica) are most likely to cause allergies.
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Where Are Cockroaches Found?
Cockroaches are found all over the world,particularly in warmer climates.Even in colder climates, however, cockroaches can be found, especially where humans live. Cockroaches can be found indoors and outdoors, and some species are dependent upon humans for their survival. Usually, cockroaches can be found near sources of food and water, such as in the kitchen or bathroom. They feed on table scraps, trash, and pet food, but can eat other materials, such as paper goods and other forms of starch.
How Do Cockroaches Cause Allergy?
The major cockroach allergens come from droppings, called frass.The allergens tend to be heavy, similar to dust mite allergen, and are only likely to be airborne with activities such as sweeping or vacuuming. The airborne cockroach particles then enter the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and lungs, and set up anallergic reactionin people with allergic antibodies against the cockroach.
How Is Cockroach Allergy Diagnosed?
Cockroach allergy is diagnosed in much the same way as other allergies, with the use of allergy testing. Skin testing is the most accurate and least expensive way to diagnose cockroach allergy, althoughtesting the bloodfor IgE to cockroach can also make the diagnosis.
How Is Cockroach Allergy Treated?
The treatment of cockroach allergy involves three key steps: Avoidance, medications, and immunotherapy. Avoidance of cockroach typically involves the removal of food and water sources with common sense cleaning techniques, such as cleaning up scraps of food, taking out the garbage, and keeping pet food in sealed plastic containers. If there is a significant cockroach infestation, the use of commercially available insecticide sprays or bait traps may be useful, or a professional exterminator may be required.
Frequently Asked Questions
The symptoms of an allergy to cockroaches are similar to other environmental or animal allergies: sneezing; runny nose; itchy eyes, mouth, and throat; cough; and a skin rash. These would occur when you are exposed to cockroaches or their droppings.Learn MoreHow to Test for Allergies at Home
The symptoms of an allergy to cockroaches are similar to other environmental or animal allergies: sneezing; runny nose; itchy eyes, mouth, and throat; cough; and a skin rash. These would occur when you are exposed to cockroaches or their droppings.
Learn MoreHow to Test for Allergies at Home
Learn MoreTreating Allergies
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pomés A, Mueller GA, Randall TA, Chapman MD, Arruda LK.New insights into cockroach allergens.Current Allergy Asthma Reports. 2017;17(4):25. doi. 10.1007/s11882-017-0694-1. Published April, 2017.Mattison CP, Khurana T, Tarver MR, et al.Cross-reaction between Formosan termite (Coptotermes formosanus) proteins and cockroach allergens.Ahuja SK, ed.PLoS ONE. 2017;12(8):e0182260. doi. 10.1371/journal.pone.0182260. Published August, 2017.Pomés A, Mueller GA, Randall TA, Chapman MD, Arruda LK.New insights into cockroach allergens.Current Allergy Asthma Reports. 2017;17(4):25. doi. 10.1007/s11882-017-0694-1. Published April, 2017.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Cockroach Allergy.Additional ReadingWeber RA. German Cockroaches. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2007;99(2): A4.Weber RA. Oriental Cockroaches. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2009;103(4): A4.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pomés A, Mueller GA, Randall TA, Chapman MD, Arruda LK.New insights into cockroach allergens.Current Allergy Asthma Reports. 2017;17(4):25. doi. 10.1007/s11882-017-0694-1. Published April, 2017.Mattison CP, Khurana T, Tarver MR, et al.Cross-reaction between Formosan termite (Coptotermes formosanus) proteins and cockroach allergens.Ahuja SK, ed.PLoS ONE. 2017;12(8):e0182260. doi. 10.1371/journal.pone.0182260. Published August, 2017.Pomés A, Mueller GA, Randall TA, Chapman MD, Arruda LK.New insights into cockroach allergens.Current Allergy Asthma Reports. 2017;17(4):25. doi. 10.1007/s11882-017-0694-1. Published April, 2017.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Cockroach Allergy.Additional ReadingWeber RA. German Cockroaches. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2007;99(2): A4.Weber RA. Oriental Cockroaches. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2009;103(4): A4.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Pomés A, Mueller GA, Randall TA, Chapman MD, Arruda LK.New insights into cockroach allergens.Current Allergy Asthma Reports. 2017;17(4):25. doi. 10.1007/s11882-017-0694-1. Published April, 2017.Mattison CP, Khurana T, Tarver MR, et al.Cross-reaction between Formosan termite (Coptotermes formosanus) proteins and cockroach allergens.Ahuja SK, ed.PLoS ONE. 2017;12(8):e0182260. doi. 10.1371/journal.pone.0182260. Published August, 2017.Pomés A, Mueller GA, Randall TA, Chapman MD, Arruda LK.New insights into cockroach allergens.Current Allergy Asthma Reports. 2017;17(4):25. doi. 10.1007/s11882-017-0694-1. Published April, 2017.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Cockroach Allergy.
Pomés A, Mueller GA, Randall TA, Chapman MD, Arruda LK.New insights into cockroach allergens.Current Allergy Asthma Reports. 2017;17(4):25. doi. 10.1007/s11882-017-0694-1. Published April, 2017.
Mattison CP, Khurana T, Tarver MR, et al.Cross-reaction between Formosan termite (Coptotermes formosanus) proteins and cockroach allergens.Ahuja SK, ed.PLoS ONE. 2017;12(8):e0182260. doi. 10.1371/journal.pone.0182260. Published August, 2017.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Cockroach Allergy.
Weber RA. German Cockroaches. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2007;99(2): A4.Weber RA. Oriental Cockroaches. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2009;103(4): A4.
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