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Cockroaches - Asthma And
Allergy PreventionCockroaches are one of the most troublesome pests found in homes.
They cause damage to food, stain furniture and books, and they can
be a health hazard for people with asthma. Studies have shown a
strong association between the presence of cockroaches and the
increase of asthma and allergy symptoms.
Cockroaches will infest any
structure, clean or not, to escape extreme weather and to find food
and water. Using prevention techniques, treatment with pesticides,
and a good clean-up afterwards will help reduce the risks of an
asthma attack.
Proteins found in cockroach saliva and droppings are what triggers
attacks in people with asthma. Another trigger is caused by what
some researchers call roach dust. Roach dust is found in the
decaying body and body parts of dead roaches.
To get rid of roaches you must eliminate any food and water sources
in your kitchen. Clean the kitchen before going to bed because
cockroaches look for food at night. Use a small trash can in your
kitchen that requires the bag to be emptied each evening.
Put away
the pet’s food for the night and seal up any containers of pet food.
Do not leave food out on the counters on dishes and wash off the
counter tops to remove all crumbs. Sweep and mop the kitchen floor.
Eliminate water sources by draining the sink and wiping up any water
from around the sink.
Roaches can be carried in or they can find their own way inside your
home. Inspect bags, boxes, furniture, and books before you bring
them inside. Seal cracks on the outside of your home at the
foundation and around the exterior doors and windows with caulk.
Seal areas with caulking or foam around wiring and plumbing that
provides an opening around your home.
Clear sealants can be used to
seal baseboards, molding, and around doors and windows inside your
house. Seal your outer doors tight with weather stripping. Beneath
cabinets use caulk or foam to seal around drains. Roaches must have
water, so you should repair leaking pipes in the house. Eliminating
their way in and eliminating their food and water sources will
greatly reduce your chances of an infestation.
If you or a family member suffers from asthma and you have a roach
infestation there are some effective treatment methods you should
follow. Powders are effective treatments for roaches and they do not
release irritants in the air like most store-bought pesticides in a
can do. Powders usually take a little time to show results, but they
can continue to work for a long time after application.
Apply powders where pets and children cannot reach it, behind
appliances, under the stove and refrigerator, and in open spaces
beneath cabinets. Apply the powder in areas where roaches are
active. As roaches hunt for food and water they walk through the
powder. The powder sticks to their bodies and the roaches lick it
off, poisoning them. Lightly apply the powder, if it is too thick
the roaches will avoid it. Most powders come in a plastic squeeze
bottle with a narrow tip, making it easy to apply. You can also
purchase a powder applicator that helps to apply it properly.
Baits are a safe treatment alternative for people with asthma. Gels,
pastes, granules, and dusts are all forms of baits. For heavy
infestation, you may want to use baits with powder. But, do not put
the powder on the bait and do not spray the powder or bait with an
insecticide. Sprays have odors that the roaches will avoid.
Baits contain food that attracts roaches. The baits poison the
roaches after they eat the bait. Then the roach returns back to its
hiding place and dies. Other roaches eat the body of the poisoned
roach and it kills them as well. Apply gel baits in small drops
along the baseboards, behind appliances, and along the counter at
the back of the countertop, but only at the edges and in the
corners.
Be careful when cleaning the counter that you don’t wipe
the area clean and that you don’t apply water to the bait. Baits
must be kept out of the reach of children and pets and way from
food, so be careful not to smear the bait while you clean.
Often, asthma is triggered by roach dust even after the roaches are
gone. Clean the house thoroughly by wiping up the roach dust. Use an
old, damp cloth that can be thrown away after use. Dead roaches,
droppings, and eggs sacks are all evidence you can find after an
infestation.
The roach dust needs to be vacuumed up and the vacuum
bag disposed of. If possible, use a HEPA vacuum cleaner, a HEPA
filter, or a water vacuum cleaner to avoid the risk of dust
particles going back into the air. If the person doing the cleaning
has asthma, he or she should wear a dust mask.
Once the roaches are
gone and the dust is gone as well, your home will be cleaner, it
will smell better, and it will be free of asthma causing irritants.
To fid out how to get rid of roaches in or around your home, please
visit
www.pestproductsonline.com.
by Dennise Brogdon
Dennise Brogdon is the managing editor of the Hughston Health Alert,
a quarterly, patient-information newsletter, and she is an editorial
assistant for the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s
scientific journal, the Journal of Athletic Training.
Dennise is a
Web site copywriter and editor. She has experience writing and
editing SEO copy and META tags, brochures, advertorials, video
scripts, and other technical and promotional material, as well.
Dennise earned a BA in English with professional writing as an
emphasis at Columbus State University. She is a member of the
American Medical Writers Association and the Georgia Writers
Association.
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