Asthma: Controlling Cockroaches
Asthma: Controlling CockroachesSkip to the navigationTopic Overview Exposure to cockroaches may increase
asthma symptoms. Cockroaches leave behind particles from their feces, eggs, and shells that can
cause an allergic reaction. Cockroaches are a problem in many
homes, especially in the southern part of the United
States. Here are some steps you can take to remove cockroaches from your
home: - Clean often. Pay special attention to carpets, upholstery, and bedding.
- Don't leave food lying around the
house, especially at night.
- Keep all food in tightly sealed containers.
- Don't leave pet food and water out overnight.
- Clean up food spills right away.
- Keep your house dry. Increase ventilation to get rid of moisture.
- Don't leave garbage in open containers.
- Throw away or recycle mail, newspapers, and boxes. Cockroaches can
hide in these items.
- Seal openings that cockroaches can use to enter your house. Pay special
attention to windows, cracks in the wall, and gaps in the floor.
- Use
sticky traps that catch cockroaches and can be thrown away.
- If you use cockroach bait or poisons, get the kind that come in ready-to-use childproof containers.
Chemicals can irritate the bronchial tubes, which carry air to the lungs. So
chemicals aren't the first choice for controlling cockroaches in the home. If you must use chemicals to kill cockroaches, be careful to keep children away from the treated areas. Follow all of the directions that come with the chemical.
If
you use a chemical spray, open the windows and doors during use and until all odor is
gone. A person who has asthma needs to stay out of the house until the odor of the
chemical is gone. ReferencesOther Works Consulted- Portnoy J, et al. (2013). Environmental assessment and exposure reduction to cockroaches: A practice parameter. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 132(4): 802-808. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.04.061. Accessed March 26, 2014.
CreditsByHealthwise Staff Primary Medical ReviewerJohn Pope, MD - Pediatrics Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Specialist Medical ReviewerMary F. McNaughton Collins, MD, MPH - Internal Medicine Current as ofMarch 25, 2017 Current as of:
March 25, 2017 Last modified on: 8 September 2017
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