Roaches
Cause Asthma Problems
Research recently published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine found asthmatic children who were both allergic and frequently exposed to cockroaches were three and a half times more likely to be hospitalized from asthma-related problems than children who were allergic to cockroaches, but not exposed to them on a frequent basis.
The study looked at hundreds of asthmatic children from eight cities around the country. It found the problem was much more severe among poor, inner-city children. Researches also concluded that, in general, asthmatic children were significantly more allergic to cockroach allergens than they were to more commonly mentioned allergens like cat dander or dust mites. Pest control and medical professionals around the country emphasized that cockroach control is relatively inexpensive and could produce significant benefits. In an editorial published along with the research report, the New England Journal of Medicine urged the public to "focus on reducing the population of cockroaches (through) control of sources of food and water, routine cleaning, and regular use of insecticides."
About 8% of the people in the U.S. are truly allergic to cockroaches (and another 2% are truly allergic to fleas).