Cockroach allergy can causes perennial symptoms

Cockroach Allergy

Cockroaches are insects found mainly in home.  They prefer warm conditions found most often in buildings. The body parts, saliva and waste of cockroaches are major perennial allergens. Even dead cockroaches can cause allergic reactions.

Cockroach allergy is a common cause of perennial allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Cockroach Allergy allergy symptoms include:

• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Stuffy nose
• Itchy, watery and red eyes
• Itchy nose and itchy throat
• Postnasal drip
• Skin itching
• Coughing

In addition to this cockroach allergy can trigger asthma symptoms and can lead to:

• Breathing difficulty
• Tightness in the chest or chest pain
• Wheezing sound
• Trouble sleeping

Diagnosis of Cockroach Allergy?

Symptoms- .

Tell your physician /allergist, the symptoms you are experiencing.  Tell him when this symptoms start occurring, how much time the symptoms last and how you get relief. Ask for perennial allergic symptoms.

Physical examination: To find out any urticarial lesion in the body and to exclude other cause of similar symptoms.

Investigation-

Skin prick testing (SPT) or Prick skin testing (PST), is a widely used, high quality, low risk allergy test to demonstrate immediate IgE-mediated allergy. The test is cost effective. The test should be performed by a trained person.,

Allergen specific IgE testing- Blood testing for allergen-specific IgE is usually performed when the skin prick test is contraindicated. They can also be done in extreme of age i.e., an infant and elderly patients where skin prick test is not appropriate.

Cockroach avoidance measures

Clean room

Clean Kitchen.

Cover all trash cans tightly.

Store food in airtight containers.

Wash all dirty dishes.

Sweep up any food crumbs from the counters, stove top, tables and floor.

Wipe up any spills. Vacuum and mop floors regularly.

Fix leaky pipes under sinks and in the basement.

Seal cracks in the walls and floors

Treatment for Cockroach Allergy

The most important step is to avoid cockroaches

Certain over-the-counter and prescription antihistamines.

Nasal corticosteroids spray.

Leukotriene receptor antagonists

Decongestants

Immunotherapy (allergy shots).