Allergy to cockroaches: symptoms, can the disease occur in children

Treatment of allergy to cockroaches

If generalized urticaria develops, you should take an antihistamine and consult a doctor, as such a reaction can develop into Quincke's edema.
Cockroaches in the home are usually controlled using insecticides. They are considered safe if the rules of use are followed, since their main toxic effect is directed towards insects, but no one is immune from developing an allergy to the insecticide used.

The signs of an allergy to cockroach repellents are similar to those of an allergy to insects, and therefore it is only possible to determine whether an allergy has developed to the poison from cockroaches or to them themselves by contacting a doctor who will conduct a test to determine specific sensitivity.

However, according to statistics, allergies to insecticides are somewhat more severe, because synthetic potent substances are used, and in large quantities.

Cockroach allergy (CRA) is a subtype of insect allergy (reaction to insects) that can cause attacks of bronchial asthma and serious body reactions such as anaphylactic shock. Read more about the symptoms and causes of cockroach allergy, diagnostic methods and treatment of the disease in this article.

Allergy symptoms from bites, direct contact with a cockroach or through secretions:

hives (blisters and rash)
skin redness;
edema,
itching

If an attack of bronchial asthma develops during ANT:

shortness of breath or suffocation;
rapid shallow breathing;
cough;
wheezing;
orthopnea (a characteristic position that the patient takes during an attack to facilitate breathing).

Symptoms when waste products of cockroaches or whole insects are ingested (with food):

itching, burning and soreness of the lips, tongue, gums,
stomach ache;
heaviness in the stomach;
nausea;
intoxication;
elevated temperature.

In cases of acute reaction of the body to cockroaches:

Quincke's edema (severe swelling of the face - lips, eyelids, tongue and larynx);
generalized urticaria (blisters and rashes all over the body);
anaphylactic shock (pallor of the skin, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness).

If you have a severe allergic reaction to cockroaches, you should immediately seek professional help.

But it also happens that the allergy goes away almost unnoticed. If you experience common allergy symptoms year-round, such as constantly sneezing, scratching your nose, or can't get rid of a cough without fever, it may be ANT.

Methods such as a general blood test and a blood test for lg-E specific antibodies will help confirm the diagnosis.

To treat allergies to cockroaches, there are symptomatic medications prescribed by an allergist. Traditional medicine can also be used as an adjuvant therapy.

To treat ANT with traditional methods at home, you can use infusions based on St. John's wort and calendula.

Method of preparation: pour 4 teaspoons of the mixture into 200 ml of water and let it brew for 8-12 hours at room temperature. Boil and let it brew for another 4 hours. Strain.

Directions for use: ⅓ glass three times a day.

Method of preparation: pour boiling water over the flowers and let stand for an hour.

Directions for use: 1 spoon three times a day.

An allergy to cockroaches can, in the absence of measures to eliminate it, lead to a painful asthmatic condition, as well as contribute to the worsening of the symptoms of a person’s existing asthma.

Diagnosis of allergy to cockroaches is carried out in conjunction with tests for other allergens. In skin diagnostics, the allergen is applied directly to the skin and passed through scratches. This is followed by monitoring the reaction to the allergen. An allergic reaction will manifest itself in the form of redness of the skin and the appearance of swelling and itching.

The severity of the allergy is determined by the size of the swollen area where the allergen was applied.

In addition, there is a test for immunoglobulin E, which can also serve to detect certain allergic reactions. Such a test still does not have such high accuracy as the skin test presented above. The immunoglobulin test is suitable for use by people with problem skin.

Treatment of allergy to cockroaches is determined by the severity of hay fever, symptoms and consequences of the allergy. The most commonly used medications for treatment are:

Nasal corticosteroid sprays;
Antihistamines (H1-H2 histamine receptor blockers) and decongestants;
Leukotriene receptor blockers;
Adrenergic blockers and adrenergic stimulants;
Sodium cromoglycate;
Cromolyn;
Theophylline group drugs;
M-anticholinergics;
Expectorants.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy is also used in the treatment of cockroach allergies. Its task is to gradually improve the body's resistance to allergens.

Of course, any medications should be used only in accordance with the recommendations of the attending physician. Remember that these drugs, if used incorrectly, can cause various side effects, including quite serious ones.

An allergic reaction to cockroaches is a fairly common subtype of insect allergy. The cause of its occurrence is contact with insects or their metabolic products.

Cockroaches live almost everywhere, so it is possible to develop allergies both to the familiar red and American cockroaches, and to exotic species - this is an allergy to marbled and Madagascar cockroaches, which are atypical for our latitudes.

However, these two species can be kept as pets or food for them, and the marbled cockroach, being a cosmopolitan, is also common in Mexico, Brazil, Madagascar and Australia, so contact with them is not such a rarity.

Despite the external differences between insects, the forms of manifestation and symptoms of allergies to Madagascar and marbled cockroaches are no different from allergies to ordinary domestic cockroaches.

If generalized urticaria develops, you should take an antihistamine and consult a doctor, as such a reaction can develop into Quincke's edema.

The particular danger of such an allergy is that in most cases the symptoms are associated with the respiratory tract. In some situations this can be fatal, although this happens quite rarely. The most common manifestations of the disease:

rhinitis;
hoarseness of voice;
swelling of the airways;
cough;
sneezing;
itching and burning in the nose.

In children, the symptoms are much more pronounced, and such allergies occur much more often - the allergen is too powerful, and the child’s immune system is not yet developed enough.

Children experience both respiratory symptoms and skin manifestations, which are quite rare in adults. This is expressed in urticaria - rashes on the arms, chest, stomach and back (most often near the point of contact with a cockroach or its bite). The rash can reach several centimeters in diameter and is red in color. Usually, urticaria is accompanied by itching and burning; it rarely becomes painful.

Often, respiratory symptoms are accompanied by eye problems - allergic conjunctivitis. There is profuse lacrimation, burning, the eyes itch, and in rare cases they fester. This does not pose any particular danger, but it does cause a lot of problems, so during treatment, doctors prescribe special drops to relieve these symptoms.

Intestinal signs of the disease manifest themselves in:

nausea;
vomiting;
diarrhea;
colic.

These symptoms occur when an allergen enters the esophagus, for example, when eating foods contaminated with cockroach secretions. Sometimes this is confused with intestinal poisoning, but if other symptoms are present, we can safely speak of an allergic reaction.

Therapy is prescribed only after diagnosis; all medications and auxiliary treatment methods are selected individually, taking into account the characteristics of a particular patient.

Diagnosis of the disease includes:

taking anamnesis;
visual inspection;
blood test for IgE;
blood test for infections (to exclude other diseases with similar symptoms);
urine test;
skin test.

The latter involves injecting a small amount of allergen under the skin and then monitoring the reaction.

The first therapeutic measure is to isolate the patient from the source of the allergen. Of course, it is unlikely that it will be possible to quickly exterminate cockroaches, but regular wet cleaning of the room significantly reduces the amount of dust and insect secretions contained in it. This already mitigates the course of the disease.

The basis of therapy is antihistamines. You should not choose them yourself; let your doctor prescribe them. Commonly used:

Claritin;
Suprastin;
Zodak;
Zyrtec.

The dosage must comply with the instructions of the specialist or, if there were none, the instructions for the drug. Please note that antihistamines should not be taken by pregnant women, especially in the early stages.

At the same time, it is recommended to take vitamins and mineral complexes prescribed by your doctor. It would be a good idea to undergo an additional examination before this - an allergic reaction to vitamins is not that rare, and the body is already weakened by cockroaches, so there may not be the most pleasant consequences.

In other words, don’t take a step without the doctor’s instructions!

sneezing;
runny nose;
itching;
redness and tearing of the eyes;
allergic rhinitis;
wet cough;
sore throat;
rashes, cracks and ulcers on the skin.

You may be interested in: Quincke's edema - emergency care

Redness of the skin.
Rash.
Swelling of the nasopharynx, nasal congestion.
Watery nasal discharge.
Frequent sneezing.
Swelling of the eyelids.
Skin itching.

In particularly severe cases, the following conditions are observed:

Anaphylactic shock.
Generalized urticaria.
Quincke's edema.

Nasal congestion;
Runny nose and itching;
Sore throat;
Cough, sneezing;
Eye irritation, tears;
Rhinoconjunctivitis;
Rash.

Treatment, remedies and drugs

Treatment of allergy to cockroaches is determined by the severity of hay fever, symptoms and consequences of the allergy. The most commonly used medications for treatment are:

Nasal corticosteroid sprays;
Antihistamines (H1-H2 histamine receptor blockers) and decongestants;
Leukotriene receptor blockers;
Adrenergic blockers and adrenergic stimulants;
Sodium cromoglycate;
Cromolyn;
Theophylline group drugs;
M-anticholinergics;
Expectorants.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy is also used in the treatment of cockroach allergies. Its task is to gradually improve the body's resistance to allergens.

Harmful “Russians”, “Swabians” and “Prussians”

Dislike for countries with which the population was at war, and the harm of cockroaches to humans

The main reasons for the appearance of nicknames for these insects. They became “Prussians” in Russia. In the Czech Republic and Germany they are called “Russians” and “Swabians”, in the USA - “Germans”. Cockroaches prefer warm rooms: kitchens, bathrooms, bakeries, laboratories, hospitals. They eat almost everything they come across, except glass and metal. Controlling these pests is very difficult.

Damage from cockroaches:

Easily move between rooms within the same house.
They penetrate into garbage chutes and sewers, into attics and basements.
They bring particles of bird and rat droppings, garbage, and drops of sewage into the apartment.
The offspring of one female during the reproductive period number in the thousands.
They mark locations and escape routes with excrement and pheromones.
They run fast, can glide from a height, and some species fly.
They create colonies in secluded places, crawling into tiny crevices.
They are sources of unpleasant odors.

Why does this type of allergy develop?

Most often, apartments are inhabited by red cockroaches, which can cause not only allergies, but also many other diseases, including food poisoning. Very often, the cause of the disease is dust or pollen. However, if there are cockroaches in the house, then they may well be the culprits of the illness.

Only regular maintenance of cleanliness in the apartment will solve this problem. Moreover, if this rule is neglected, then very soon the entire room will turn into a “nursery” for these insects. They multiply at cosmic speed. Females grow very quickly. They are capable of laying a huge number of eggs; saliva and chitinous cover disintegrate and, in the air, together with dust, turn into a real bacteriological weapon.

Dead cockroaches dry out and turn into tiny pieces, which eventually also become part of the dust. Fortunately, not all people are allergic to cockroaches, however, there are also those for whom living in the same apartment with these insects turns into real torture.

Treatment of allergy to cockroaches

The cause of an allergy to cockroaches is direct contact with the insect or its waste products. In addition to decorative ones, there are three types of cockroaches in our country: black, American and Prussian. All of them can cause ANT.

The body of cockroaches contains a protein that is an allergen for many people and causes an allergic immune reaction. Body parts, saliva and insect waste are all toxic to sensitive people. Even dead, they can cause allergies.

It is most difficult for asthmatics to get along with cockroaches. For example, studies show that people with asthma and allergies to cockroaches are twice as likely to have attacks.

Interestingly, not everyone agrees that cockroaches can cause harm. For example, dried insects are actively used in oriental medicine and cosmetics, and in China there are even entire farms for their production.

Wang Fu Ming is a cockroach breeder, he has six farms and about 10 million cockroaches.

Allergy to cockroaches plays a role in the development of atopic diseases in humans. Allergens are found predominantly and in large quantities in ordinary house dust.

Sensitization occurs due to:

human contact with a cockroach;
cockroach bites;
ingestion of waste products or body parts of cockroaches into the respiratory tract or digestive system.

Hypersensitivity can manifest itself in the form of both respiratory allergies and skin reactions. Cockroaches can cause the following unpleasant diseases:

Contact dermatitis;
Hives;
Rhinitis;
Bronchial asthma;
Ulcerative lesions of the gastroduodenal region and other chronic inflammatory processes.

Cockroach allergy may also be a key factor in severe asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Wang Fu Ming is a cockroach breeder, he has six farms and about 10 million cockroaches.

The main cause of the exaggerated response is believed to be a special protein, Blag Bd, which is found in chitin, feces, saliva and insect secretions. Special cells that protect the body - lymphocytes - react to this protein. They produce antibodies - special molecules that bind to foreign objects and neutralize them.

In the case of allergies, class E antibodies (IgE) are actively involved, capable of interacting with other cells - mast cells. When bound to them, compounds are released that cause the familiar manifestations of hypersensitivity.

Nasal sprays (Avamys, Prevalin, Flixonase). They form a protective film that prevents allergens from entering and constrict blood vessels.
Antihistamines (Cetrin, Zodak, Suprastin). Reduce the strength of allergic manifestations.
Corticosteroids. They have a strong anti-inflammatory effect.

If a person is aware of the peculiarities of his body in the form of increased sensitivity, he should completely renounce the desire to use them and replace them with analogues of a different nature, or during pest control activities, leave the room until the toxic substances have evaporated.

No, well, would people fight cockroaches if they do no harm? There is harm, and it is noticeable. There is even a scientific term that succinctly denotes the danger of a cockroach to humans, and the dirty tricks it causes us - blattopterosis.

But nature has not left a single creature without a role in the ecosystem. This means that even the Prussians, who are quite tired of their wanderings around kitchens and garbage dumps, are needed for something. Why exactly, and does this natural benefit justify the harm that insects bring to people?

So, when you meet him, spray him with an aerosol, or, as a last resort, smack the reptile with a slipper.

Allergy to cockroaches plays a role in the development of atopic diseases in humans. , mainly and in large quantities, are contained in ordinary house dust.

Sensitization occurs due to:

Hives;
Rhinitis;
Bronchial asthma;
Ulcerative lesions of the gastroduodenal region and other chronic inflammatory processes.

Cockroaches are dangerous, even if you poison them!

They can pose a certain danger even already - that is, after the apartment has been treated with special insecticidal agents. Such poisonous cockroaches are dangerous primarily for pets - cats, dogs, birds - who can, for fun, catch disoriented insects and eat them, which sometimes results in severe poisoning.

The principle of operation of many modern insecticides is that they do not kill the insect immediately, but only after a few hours, so that the pest has time to transfer part of the toxic substance to places where its relatives gather. So a fully alive and seemingly frisky cockroach may already contain a poisonous filling.

On a note
Cats are especially sensitive to some insecticides (in particular, pyrethroids): the first signs of poisoning in them may be severe drooling and inappropriate behavior.
For the period until the insects are completely eliminated from the premises, all pets should be placed with relatives or friends.

Poisoning with a cockroach repellent can also occur in the person treating the premises, as well as in his relatives who live in the same area. The rules for the use of insecticidal preparations require that no one except the handler be in the house, and that the handler himself use a respirator.

Of course, in real conditions these requirements are not always met, and poisoning from cockroaches, generally speaking, is not such a rare case. It is usually limited to nausea, vomiting and severe headaches, but sometimes much more severe and even life-threatening conditions are observed.

The dangers listed above are real. But sometimes cockroaches are also credited with numerous imaginary abilities that turn these insects into real monsters.

For example, there is a well-known myth that mutant cockroaches that have gills and swim well often appear from sewers. In fact, it is a swimming beetle, vaguely similar to a cockroach. In some Ukrainian cities, such beetles in the spring, during the period of their mass appearance, enter apartments and private houses in quite large quantities, which greatly frightens people.

The photo shows a swimming beetle:

In other cases, flycatchers are considered mutant cockroaches. These centipedes are often found in outdoor spaces, attics and outdoor kitchens. The most interesting thing is that they are good helpers for humans in the fight against cockroaches, since they actively catch and eat small cockroach larvae (nymphs).

The photo below shows a flycatcher:

Some people are sure that this is the same mutant cockroach with many legs, the cause of which is radiation.

In fact, mutant cockroaches do not exist - at least, you definitely won’t meet them in your apartment. In addition, poisonous cockroaches are not known to science as a separate species (and the concept of “cockroach poison” refers to drugs that poison cockroaches).

In fact, the benefits of cockroaches in nature are very great: thousands of different species of these insects utilize and process huge amounts of rotting plant debris, loosen the soil in forests, and serve as food for numerous animals and birds. Therefore, harm from cockroaches is a very relative concept and only manifests itself in a person’s home.

Interesting video: removing a cockroach from a person's ear

Preventing the appearance of cockroaches in the house and fighting them

First of all, cockroaches should be stopped from accessing food and water. You should eat in the same place, immediately after eating you need to wash the dishes and remove the crumbs. If you have a pet, remove any leftover food from it. Store food products in airtight containers, regularly take out trash and carry out wet cleaning. You should also eliminate all leaks in the water supply system, thereby blocking the cockroaches’ path to water.
To prevent cockroaches from getting in from neighbors and for them to find safe habitats, ventilation openings should be covered with mosquito nets, and all cracks in walls, doors and baseboards should be puttied.
If cockroaches do appear, it is possible to use various traps that are sold or made independently. You can also repel them with substances with a strong unpleasant odor, for example ammonia (5 ml of ammonia per liter of water for wet cleaning), denatured alcohol, kerosene, turpentine.
In the case where there are a lot of cockroaches, you cannot do without poisons. A variety of products are used, ranging from boric acid mixed into bait to various organophosphorus insecticides in the form of gels, crayons, and sprays. Poisons should be used repeatedly, at short intervals, until the cockroaches completely disappear.

Today there are many companies engaged in pest control. The best option would be to contact one of them.

First of all, you should prevent the appearance of cockroaches by wet cleaning the entire room, because females lay eggs in a special form - ooteca, which is a stable capsule protected from chemicals and water. It is also necessary to eat in strictly designated places and immediately remove the leftover crumbs, because, as mentioned above, this serves as food for pests.

Both for the purpose of prevention and if they are present in the house, you can use special mixtures, usually insecticides.

Currently, household stores offer a wide selection of similar products:

Pastas. They are innovative representatives of this series. Application is carried out near insect habitats. They absorb the mixture and carry it on their paws to the nest, thereby affecting all its inhabitants. The effect occurs within a few hours, and reaches its maximum effect after a couple of weeks.
Other insecticides. They have different chemical compositions, but fipronil, chlorpyrifos, zetacypermethrin, deltamethrin, etc. are more often used. Available in the form of discs, crayons, sprays, gels.
Folk remedies . They are used when chemicals cannot be used for various reasons (hypersensitivity, presence of small children, animals). The most famous of this series is boric acid in powder form.

To prevent the appearance of these parasites in your home or get rid of them, you should adhere to the following rules:

First of all, cockroaches should be cut off from access to food and water. You should eat in the same place, immediately after eating you need to wash the dishes and remove the crumbs. If you have a pet, remove any leftover food from it. Store food products in airtight containers, regularly take out trash and carry out wet cleaning. You should also eliminate all leaks in the water supply system, thereby blocking the cockroaches’ path to water.
To prevent cockroaches from getting in from neighbors and for them to find safe habitats, the ventilation holes should be covered with a mosquito net, and all cracks in the walls, doors and baseboards should be filled with putty.
If cockroaches do appear, it is possible to use various traps that are sold or made independently. You can also repel them with substances with a strong unpleasant odor, for example ammonia (5 ml of ammonia per liter of water for wet cleaning), denatured alcohol, kerosene, turpentine.
In the case where there are a lot of cockroaches, you cannot do without poisons. A variety of products are used, ranging from boric acid mixed into bait to various organophosphorus insecticides in the form of gels, crayons, and sprays. Poisons should be used repeatedly, at short intervals, until the cockroaches completely disappear.

Compliance with the first two rules is quite enough to prevent the appearance of cockroaches in the house, and following all points will get rid of domestic parasites and prevent the appearance of an allergy to cockroaches, or, if one has already developed, avoid new attacks, and the associated unpleasant, and sometimes even dangerous symptoms.

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What kind of prevention is needed?

If an area is heavily populated by cockroaches, special treatment against insects is required.
In order to achieve stable remission of an allergic disease, you need to fight not only the manifestations, but also the cockroaches. Therefore, you should regularly clean your apartment and treat it against cockroaches. The products are used to treat crevices where insects can hide.

In addition, you need to keep the kitchen clean. Do not leave food on the table, take out the trash on time, and keep food in a closed container. Where cockroaches most often appear, special traps are left and the accumulation areas are treated with boric acid.

ACTUALLY ANY type of insect you encounter in large enough numbers, including cute ladybugs, can cause you to have an unpleasant reaction.

Mighty ticks and cockroaches: tiny but mighty

Ticks, these tiny relatives of the spider, live for a month, and during that time a female laying eggs can bring 30 new tick babies into the world. Ticks spend their days chewing on skin cells that continually shed from your body and linger in sheets, carpeting, and other surfaces around the house. The excrement produced by mites turns into a powder that adheres perfectly to surrounding surfaces.

To obtain water, ticks absorb moisture through their body. They thrive in areas with 75 percent humidity, but die when humidity drops below 40 to 50 percent. That is why at high altitudes and in other dry climatic zones their numbers are small. Mite allergen levels are highest in August and September and lowest in November and December.

Cockroaches invade your home for the same reasons that ticks do: food and water. Keeping your home immaculately clean will leave less food for cockroaches to eat, but even a small amount of moisture on the wood surfaces in your home will result in the growth of large enough microorganisms for cockroaches to eat, drink, and thrive.

When moving rapidly, cockroaches leave traces in the form of saliva, which causes allergies, waste products and body fragments, which then become suspended. When insects die, their bodies break down, producing even more allergens. Like small gifts, these products can float through the air, land on your pillow, enter your nose as you inhale, and trigger—or worsen—asthma or allergies.

Allergens plus genetics can cause trouble

To acquire an allergy to insects, you need two things: proteins from insects in the environment and a genetic background that predisposes you to be allergic to them.

Let's say you and your partner live in a house infested with ticks and cockroaches. If you are genetically predisposed to allergies, you are more likely to get asthma or hay fever (also known as rhinitis). But unless your other half is genetically wired for allergies, she'll probably be fine despite the bugs.

This leads us to discuss some important questions that scientists are still trying to answer: How much of an allergen does it take to give you asthma or allergies? And if you have these diseases, how much of the allergen is enough to cause an outbreak? If you are genetically prone to insect allergies, just remember this: you don't need to be exposed to a lot of insect allergens to have a reaction.

Researchers are still trying to determine which methods of killing mites and cockroaches work well enough to save you time and expense. Some improvements you can make are relatively cheap and easy but quite effective, such as reducing allergens in bedding. Others are expensive and effective, such as carpet ripping. There are methods that are relatively cheap but ineffective, such as spraying mite-killing chemicals on the carpet. Here is a list of recommendations for limiting the number of ticks in your home.

Definitely useful.

Experts say the best place to start the war against mites is in the bedroom, especially the bed, because it's where you spend most of your life. You should wrap your mattress, box spring, pillows and, if possible, duvets and duvets in special impermeable covers that will keep insects and the allergens they release from invading your bedding. Some of these covers are made from a dense woven material that allows air and moisture to pass through, making them more comfortable than the vinyl covers of the past. It's also important to regularly wash your sheets, pillowcases, and exposed blankets every week or every 10 days to wash away allergens. Washing in water above 54.4 C will kill live mites, but it's most important to make sure you wash off their droppings and other allergens. Detergents can work selectively: one is to kill mites, the other is to wash out allergens. Finally, wipe the covers with a damp cloth or clean them according to the manufacturer's instructions each time you wash the rest of the bedding.

Probably useful.

Remove carpets and replace them with smooth carpeting that can be cleaned with a damp mop. This removes a huge number of mites and other allergens, but this is an expensive method. Additionally, wipe down polished, hard surfaces in your home weekly with a damp cloth or paper towel. This simple technique makes it possible to remove a lot of dust and allergens. It also doesn't cost much, although it is a labor-intensive job.

Possibly useful.

Air filters can capture some dust mite allergens from the air, but these allergens are so heavy that they usually lie on the surface and only temporarily rise into the air when disturbed. As a result, a filter located far away is unlikely to capture them. The study found that when used along with bedding covers, a self-contained HEPA (high efficiency particulate air purifier) filter could reduce mite allergy symptoms more than using covers alone. Unfortunately, vacuuming does not harm live mite colonies—the sticky legs keep them in place, but vacuuming does remove dust and other allergens, which is beneficial. Just use a vacuum with a HEPA filter or double bag to minimize dust that passes through the mechanism, and wear a dust mask for added protection.

Probably not useful.

Acaricides, chemicals that kill ticks, have not been shown to be effective enough against ticks living in carpets or upholstered furniture to recommend their use.

Ridding your home of cockroaches

The best way to deal with cockroaches in the house is to firstly ensure that they do not come from outside. To do this, it is necessary to eliminate the places of their penetration, sealing cracks, depriving them of moisture, maintaining low humidity in the house and fighting dampness; eliminate their food sources by tightly sealing food jars and cleaning up crumbs. If cockroaches do appear in your home, the best way to deal with them is to use gels and baits instead of aerosols, which can irritate people with asthma (more information about cockroach repellents is described in the section “Cockroach Allergy Action Plan”). Cleaning your home regularly will help get rid of any remaining cockroach allergens in the future.

Allergy to cockroaches is quite common nowadays. It is these insects that can cause the strongest reaction. The disease actively develops in the human body directly due to the fact that it comes into contact with the proteins contained in cockroaches, namely in their saliva and chitinous shell.

Most often you can see red cockroaches in apartments and houses. They cause not only allergies, but also other diseases. To prevent their appearance, it is necessary to carefully monitor the cleanliness of the room, remove food and prevent moisture from appearing in some places.

After the cockroaches die, they dry out, crumble and turn into dust, which can also cause allergies. A person may not understand that it is the remains of insects that make him feel unwell.

An allergic reaction can begin due to the fact that the body produces specific cells that respond to the presence of an allergen. The disease may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

At the very beginning of the disease, the symptoms may be mild, but with prolonged contact with insects and their remains, the person’s condition can noticeably worsen. Sores, cracks, and frequent rashes appear on the body.

How to identify and treat allergies?

If you suspect an allergic reaction, you should immediately contact a specialist and get tested. Your doctor may suggest the following tests:

Skin test. For this study, the doctor makes small scratches on the skin and applies a drug that is intended for this purpose. If swelling appears after some time, then it can be said that the person has an allergy.
Allergy scarification test. In this case, the study determines the level of immunoglobulin.

To stop the development of allergies, it is necessary to urgently begin its treatment. First of all, it is necessary to get rid of cockroaches and eliminate all insect waste. However, preventive measures will not be enough.

Your doctor may suggest several treatment methods:

How to prevent allergies?

If there are a lot of cockroaches in the room, then you need to call specialists to carry out disinfestation using professional means. With a small amount you can handle it yourself. In order for the patient to have a stable remission, it is necessary to carefully monitor the cleanliness of the room.

You should constantly do wet cleaning in the apartment and treat all corners, crevices, baseboards - the favorite places of cockroaches.

It is especially important to maintain perfect cleanliness in the kitchen. You must not leave food on the table; you must ensure that there are no pieces of food or crumbs lying on the floor. You must take out the trash every day.

In addition, a person who suffers from allergies needs to carefully monitor their health.

If you, a healthy person with normal immunity, suddenly (for no reason) began to experience a sore throat, dry cough, nasal congestion, a desire to constantly sneeze, red eyes and watery eyes, and you were not previously allergic, then take a closer look at your environment - what changed?

If uninvited neighbors in the form of cockroaches (big black ones or “our” red cockroaches) have settled next to you, then it is likely that this is an allergy to cockroaches, the symptoms of which may also include a rash and itchy skin.

Like most types of allergies, if it is not eliminated, then no matter how much you take antihistamines and other tablets, the condition will only worsen - until you acquire asthma, inflammatory processes, chronic sinusitis, etc.

Eliminating the allergen

To get rid of an allergy to cockroaches forever, you need to kick unwanted guests out of your home:

Take out the trash often; the trash can must have a lid and close tightly;
do not leave food on the table or other open surfaces;
wash dishes immediately after eating;
remove leftover food and crumbs immediately after eating;
do not leave a bowl with food for the animal;
if there are leaking pipes in the house or basement, they need to be repaired - cockroaches love moisture and dampness;
close all possible loopholes, such as cracks in the walls or floor;
use traps or pencils with cockroach gel (sprays can damage the respiratory tract).

Before resorting to allergy treatment, it is worth identifying and eliminating the allergen itself. This fact should not be taken too lightly. The bare minimum is getting rid of cockroaches using anti-cockroaches.

Before resorting to allergy treatment, it is worth identifying and eliminating the allergen itself. This fact should not be taken too lightly. The bare minimum is getting rid of cockroaches using anti-cockroaches.

Take out the trash often; the trash can must have a lid and close tightly;
do not leave food on the table or other open surfaces;
wash dishes immediately after eating;
remove leftover food and crumbs immediately after eating;
do not leave a bowl with food for the animal;
if there are leaking pipes in the house or basement, they need to be repaired - cockroaches love moisture and dampness;
close all possible loopholes, such as cracks in the walls or floor;
use traps or pencils with cockroach gel (sprays can damage the respiratory tract).

Damage to valuable books and equipment

Insulation damaged by cockroaches often causes appliances to fail. There is nothing left but to throw away the failed devices and buy new ones instead.

Also, if the Prussians lack food, they begin to gnaw the bindings of books, even if these copies are of some value. Cockroaches are not interested in this at all!

Prussians love to lay eggs behind wallpaper, thereby damaging it.

Cockroaches as carriers of infections

Those microorganisms that naturally live inside cockroach bodies do not pose a danger to humans. But don't forget that these are very dirty insects. Why? It's simple: while moving around the house, they run through the dirtiest places:

garbage can;
garbage chute;
sewer pipes;
ventilation shafts.

Not the cleanest facilities! At the same time, the chitinous layer of cockroaches becomes heavily contaminated with local garbage, which is simply teeming with harmful microbes.

After some time, the cockroach will appear on your table. Bacteria will get on food in dishes, just on contact surfaces. Particularly dangerous situations are when the insect comes into contact with children's things, especially such as pacifiers.

The result is sad - people can get sick with anything. You can protect yourself from this - try treating the entrances to your apartment. However, if the room is already infested with insects, then you will have to use more powerful means, for example.

Could it be

There really is such a disease; any specialist will confirm this. In some cases, an allergic reaction occurs not so much due to contact with the cockroach itself, but as a result of interaction with substances and elements that these insects carry:

house dust;
plant pollen;
chemicals.

But representatives of the fauna themselves often lead to the occurrence of symptoms. Particularly dangerous in this regard are excretions (feces), as well as particles of chitin, which are renewed over time, and old pieces are separated from the body, mixing with dust.

The nature of the interaction with the stimulus is not particularly important. Most often, the reaction begins after skin contact, but especially severe consequences will result from the entry of irritant particles into the esophagus or respiratory tract. In this situation, the person will suffer especially severely, and the risks increase to the point of being fatal.

Cockroaches as sources of allergies

Not only dust, food and medications can cause allergies. Cockroaches are more successful at this than some chemicals! The fact is that their chitinous layer is constantly “peeling off”; millions of microscopic particles rise into the air.

Add to this the enzymes that insects secrete and their excrement. The result is an explosive mixture that can drive even the most resilient person into anaphylactic shock. Symptoms of a cockroach allergy are as follows:

sneezing;
cough;
difficulty breathing;
skin itching;
rash;
conjunctivitis.

If cockroaches are not controlled, asthma may develop over time. The fact is that such allergies are chronic. A person is constantly near the irritant, which means he continuously inhales allergen particles.

By the way, even after the complete destruction of cockroaches, allergies may persist. In secluded corners there are probably hundreds of empty oothecae (capsules for storing eggs) and skins left over from molts.

Features of the disease

An allergic reaction is an attempt by the immune system to protect the body from invading harmful substances. If the immune system works well, then there are no problems, filtration occurs clearly, the person feels good.

When there are malfunctions, errors occur, and completely normal elements are mistaken for harmful substances. This leads to the release of histamine into the blood, which causes allergy symptoms.

Allergies to insects are common. It is caused by contact both with the creature itself and with the products of its vital activity, for example, feces.

Important! Cockroaches are considered a powerful allergen, doctors do not really like it when such patients come to them - the disease is quite difficult to treat.

Cockroaches bite!

The most disgusting thing is that they do this not out of self-defense, but for gastronomic purposes. This usually happens at night when the person is sleeping. A hungry cockroach crawls up to its victim and, with its hard jaws, tears out a small piece of flesh. The next morning, the victim discovers a characteristic mark - a red spot with a blister in the center. At the top of this blister, a wound in the form of a cut point is clearly visible.

Should you be afraid of cockroaches? The answer is clear - no. But you shouldn’t tolerate them in the house either. Insects can indeed pose a danger to humans, often quite serious.

Allergic reactions

Another danger to humans posed by exposure to cockroaches is allergic manifestations. Chitinous coverings, which remain in large quantities after the molting of parasites, their corpses and dried excrement, are mixed with house dust and, when they get on human skin, into the respiratory system and into the digestive system, they can cause serious diseases:

bronchial asthma;
dermatitis;
allergic rhinitis.

Treatment methods for cockroach allergies

There are a large number of all kinds of folk remedies to combat allergies to cockroaches.

5 parts centaury;
4 parts St. John's wort;
4 parts crushed rose hips;
3 parts crushed dandelion root;
2 parts horsetail;
1 part corn silk;
1 part chamomile.

To prepare the infusion, add 4 tablespoons of the mixture to a glass of water and let it sit overnight. In the morning, put the infusion on the fire, bringing the liquid to a boil, but not boiling. Then wrap it for 4 hours and then strain. Take this remedy one glass a day (a third of a glass at a time, before meals). It is advisable to prepare the infusion for two to three days and store it in the refrigerator.

2). Another effective folk remedy for combating allergies is treating them with eggshell powder. You need to take the powder one quarter to a third of a teaspoon with a couple of drops of lemon juice added to it. For children, the dose of this drug should be halved.

1). For example, you can use an infusion from the following collection:

To prepare the infusion, add 4 tablespoons of the mixture to a glass of water and let it sit overnight.
In the morning, put the infusion on the fire, bringing the liquid to a boil, but not boiling. Then wrap it for 4 hours and then strain. Take this remedy one glass a day (a third of a glass at a time, before meals). It is advisable to prepare the infusion for two to three days and store it in the refrigerator.

2).Another effective folk remedy for combating allergies is treating them with eggshell powder. You need to take the powder one quarter to a third of a teaspoon with a couple of drops of lemon juice added to it. For children, the dose of this drug should be halved.

Are all species dangerous?

Today there are many varieties of cockroaches. Some of them pose a danger to human health, and some are practically harmless insects. The threat to humans comes from red, black and American cockroaches.

The most common parasites are red in color; they pose a great danger to people. These insects reach a length of up to one and a half centimeters, their wings exceed the body parameters in size. The red-haired parasite has long mustaches, which are needed to communicate with its fellows and navigate in space. A cockroach cannot live without its whiskers.

Black cockroaches that settle in homes also pose a danger to people. Their length can vary from 2 to 5 centimeters. The body is black or dark gray in color and has a noticeable metallic sheen. The wing size of females is slightly smaller than that of males. Moreover, the body of females is larger and can reach 5 centimeters.

The American cockroach is similar to the red cockroach; their body is larger - approximately 5 centimeters. Females are slightly larger than males. A distinctive feature of this type of longhorned beetle is the horizontally located dark brown stripes on the back. This sign helps to distinguish dangerous insects if a person is overcome by doubts about their safety.