Cockroaches blamed for asthma in schoolkids

Cockroaches are responsible for the rising rate of asthma in schoolchildren. This was revealed by University of Chicago researchers who said the dust in city schools contains high levels of cockroach allergen that could trigger asthma attacks in 60 to 80 percent of children.

While cockroaches have long been known to trigger asthma in sensitive individuals, their effects on schoolchildren were only recently discovered.

"Little is known about the school environment as a potential source of cockroach allergen exposure," the researchers said.

The culprit, according to Dr. Sampson Sarpong, one of the researchers, is the cockroach protein "Bla g 1" that he and his colleagues described as "the most predominant indoor allergen in the city."

Dust samples collected from four urban primary schools, including dust vacuumed from 98 classrooms and from kitchens, cafeteria, offices, teachers’ lounges, gyms and hallways, yielded detectable levels of Bla g 1. The classrooms and kitchens yielded high levels of Bla g 1 that could cause asthma attacks in allergic youngsters.

Regular thorough cleaning of infested areas and the use of pesticides can control this common pest and hopefully reduce asthma incidence in these areas. However, irritating pesticide sprays should not be used in the presence of asthmatics.

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