tinaz said:

http://www.aafa.org/displ...p;cont=312

Cockroach Allergy

What Is Cockroach Allergy? When most people think of allergy "triggers," they often focus on plant pollens, dust, animals and stinging insects. In fact, cockroaches also can trigger allergies and asthma. Cockroach allergy was first reported in 1943, when skin rashes appeared immediately after the insects crawled over patients' skin. Skin tests first confirmed patients had cockroach allergy in 1959. In the 1970s, studies made it clear that patients with cockroach allergies develop acute asthma attacks. The attacks occur after inhaling cockroach allergens and last for hours. Asthma has steadily increased over the past 30 years. It is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Now we know that the frequent hospital admissions of inner-city children with asthma often is directly related to their contact with cockroach allergens—the substances that cause allergies. From 23 percent to 60 percent of urban residents with asthma are sensitive to the cockroach allergen. The increase in asthma is not fully understood. Experts think one reason for the increase among children is that they play indoors more than in past years and thus have increased contact with the allergen. This is especially true in the inner cities where they stay inside because of safety concerns. What Causes the Allergic Reaction? The job of immune system cells is to find foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria and get rid of them. Normally, this response protects us from dangerous diseases. People with allergies have supersensitive immune systems that react when they inhale, swallow or touch certain harmless substances such as pollen or cockroaches. These substances are the allergens. Cockroach allergen is believed to derive from feces, saliva and the bodies of these insects. Cockroaches live all over the world, from tropical areas to the coldest spots on earth. Studies show that 78 percent to 98 percent of urban homes have cockroaches. Each home has from 900 to 330,000 of the insects. Private homes also harbor them, especially if the homes are well insulated. When one roach is seen in the basement or kitchen, it is safe to assume that at least 800 roaches are hidden under the kitchen sink, in closets and the like. They are carried in with groceries, furniture and luggage used on trips. Once they are in the home, they are hard to get rid of. The amount of roach allergen in house dust or air can be measured. In dwellings where the amount is high, exposure is high and the rate of hospitalization for asthma goes up. Allergen particles are large and settle rapidly on surfaces. They become airborne when the air is stirred by people moving around or by children at play. Who Develops Cockroach Allergy? People with chronic severe bronchial asthma are most likely to have cockroach allergy. Also likely to have it are people with a chronic stuffy nose, skin rash, constant sinus infection, repeat ear infection and asthma. Those who were allergic to cockroaches and were exposed to the insects were hospitalized for asthma 3.3 times more often than other children. This was true even when compared with those who were allergic to dust mites or cats. What Are Its Symptoms? Symptoms vary. They may be a mildly itchy skin, scratchy throat or itchy eyes and nose. Or the allergy symptoms can become stronger, including severe, persistent asthma in some people. Asthma symptoms often are a problem all year, not just in some seasons. This can make it hard to determine that a cockroach allergy is the cause of the asthma. How Is Cockroach Allergy Diagnosed? The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends that all patients with persistent asthma be tested for allergic response to cockroach as well as to the other chief allergens, dust mites, cats, dogs and mold. Diagnosis can be made only by skin tests. The doctor scratches or pricks the skin with cockroach extract. Redness, an itchy rash, or swelling at the site suggests you are allergic to the insect. Cockroaches should be suspected, though, when allergy symptoms—stuffy nose, inflamed eyes or ears, skin rash or bronchial asthma—persist year round. How Can I Manage Cockroach Allergy? If you have cockroach allergy, avoid contact with roaches and their droppings. The first step is to rid your home of the roaches. Because they resist many control measures, it is best to call in pest control experts. For ongoing control, use poison baits, boric acid and traps. Don't use chemical agents. They can irritate allergies and asthma. Do not leave food and garbage uncovered. To manage nasal and sinus symptoms, use antihistamines, decongestants and anti-inflammatory medications. Your doctor will also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications and bronchodilators if you have asthma. If you keep having serious allergic symptoms, see an allergist about "allergy injections" with the cockroach extract. They can reduce symptoms over time.

[Edited 10/10/12 5:17am]

[Edited 10/10/12 5:18am]

[Edited 10/10/12 5:21am]

Okay, thanks for posting that. Sounds like a general condition and not something that is triggered by being exposed to just one type of an insect.

The word "allergy" refers to the symptoms being triggered by the body when there's no real threat present. I still have a problem believing that eating a huge amount of insects without even cooking or frying them is completely harmless on its own right and the death happened due to "an allergy".

novabrkr said:

tinaz said:

http://www.aafa.org/displ...p;cont=312

Cockroach Allergy

What Is Cockroach Allergy? When most people think of allergy "triggers," they often focus on plant pollens, dust, animals and stinging insects. In fact, cockroaches also can trigger allergies and asthma. Cockroach allergy was first reported in 1943, when skin rashes appeared immediately after the insects crawled over patients' skin. Skin tests first confirmed patients had cockroach allergy in 1959. In the 1970s, studies made it clear that patients with cockroach allergies develop acute asthma attacks. The attacks occur after inhaling cockroach allergens and last for hours. Asthma has steadily increased over the past 30 years. It is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Now we know that the frequent hospital admissions of inner-city children with asthma often is directly related to their contact with cockroach allergens—the substances that cause allergies. From 23 percent to 60 percent of urban residents with asthma are sensitive to the cockroach allergen. The increase in asthma is not fully understood. Experts think one reason for the increase among children is that they play indoors more than in past years and thus have increased contact with the allergen. This is especially true in the inner cities where they stay inside because of safety concerns. What Causes the Allergic Reaction? The job of immune system cells is to find foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria and get rid of them. Normally, this response protects us from dangerous diseases. People with allergies have supersensitive immune systems that react when they inhale, swallow or touch certain harmless substances such as pollen or cockroaches. These substances are the allergens. Cockroach allergen is believed to derive from feces, saliva and the bodies of these insects. Cockroaches live all over the world, from tropical areas to the coldest spots on earth. Studies show that 78 percent to 98 percent of urban homes have cockroaches. Each home has from 900 to 330,000 of the insects. Private homes also harbor them, especially if the homes are well insulated. When one roach is seen in the basement or kitchen, it is safe to assume that at least 800 roaches are hidden under the kitchen sink, in closets and the like. They are carried in with groceries, furniture and luggage used on trips. Once they are in the home, they are hard to get rid of. The amount of roach allergen in house dust or air can be measured. In dwellings where the amount is high, exposure is high and the rate of hospitalization for asthma goes up. Allergen particles are large and settle rapidly on surfaces. They become airborne when the air is stirred by people moving around or by children at play. Who Develops Cockroach Allergy? People with chronic severe bronchial asthma are most likely to have cockroach allergy. Also likely to have it are people with a chronic stuffy nose, skin rash, constant sinus infection, repeat ear infection and asthma. Those who were allergic to cockroaches and were exposed to the insects were hospitalized for asthma 3.3 times more often than other children. This was true even when compared with those who were allergic to dust mites or cats. What Are Its Symptoms? Symptoms vary. They may be a mildly itchy skin, scratchy throat or itchy eyes and nose. Or the allergy symptoms can become stronger, including severe, persistent asthma in some people. Asthma symptoms often are a problem all year, not just in some seasons. This can make it hard to determine that a cockroach allergy is the cause of the asthma. How Is Cockroach Allergy Diagnosed? The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends that all patients with persistent asthma be tested for allergic response to cockroach as well as to the other chief allergens, dust mites, cats, dogs and mold. Diagnosis can be made only by skin tests. The doctor scratches or pricks the skin with cockroach extract. Redness, an itchy rash, or swelling at the site suggests you are allergic to the insect. Cockroaches should be suspected, though, when allergy symptoms—stuffy nose, inflamed eyes or ears, skin rash or bronchial asthma—persist year round. How Can I Manage Cockroach Allergy? If you have cockroach allergy, avoid contact with roaches and their droppings. The first step is to rid your home of the roaches. Because they resist many control measures, it is best to call in pest control experts. For ongoing control, use poison baits, boric acid and traps. Don't use chemical agents. They can irritate allergies and asthma. Do not leave food and garbage uncovered. To manage nasal and sinus symptoms, use antihistamines, decongestants and anti-inflammatory medications. Your doctor will also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications and bronchodilators if you have asthma. If you keep having serious allergic symptoms, see an allergist about "allergy injections" with the cockroach extract. They can reduce symptoms over time.

[Edited 10/10/12 5:17am]

[Edited 10/10/12 5:18am]

[Edited 10/10/12 5:21am]

Okay, thanks for posting that. Sounds like a general condition and not something that is triggered by being exposed to just one type of an insect.

The word "allergy" refers to the symptoms being triggered by the body when there's no real threat present. I still have a problem believing that eating a huge amount of insects without even cooking or frying them is completely harmless on its own right and the death happened due to "an allergy".

Your welcome! I knew I had heard of people being allergic to the droppings, but you dont come by people eating them too often!

Andy ate some too?

Visionnaire said:

Does this story in any way at all help to substiate the argument of killing all mosquitoes.....?

I'm very surprised you never mentioned Australians or moths on this thread

I have major allergies to roaches, dust mites and mold.

Most people who are tested for allergies are usually tested for roach allergies, its is quiet common, the same as being allergic to bees, dogs, cats, etc....

a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis shock) can be deadly. Poor guy, how old was he?

[Edited 10/11/12 17:05pm]

RodeoSchro said:

What happened was that two of the roaches he ate weren't dead.

They traveled down his esophagus part way before getting purchase on the inner lining. They tried to walk back up and out. But part way up, the two roaches got tangled up with each other, and caused a blockage.

They couldn't move, and he couldn't breathe. He could feel the tiny roach legs moving furiously inside his throat, and he probably guessed what that was, so he threw up as a means of dislodging the cockroaches.

But it was too late.

OK, I made that up.

I could have sworn that was a movie on the SyFy channel...

"Roaches contaminate food and other surfaces by defecating and/or regurgitating on them. This causes the spread of various parasitic diseases such as cholera, dysentery, tuberculosis, typhoid and leprosy."

Primary symptom of cholera is vomiting, and it can be lethal within hours.