Cockroach - free homes protect from asthmatic attack

Breathing difficult in
children is an emergencyChildren’s airways are narrower than those of adults. This means when they have asthmatic attacks, breathing does not only become difficult, it could be a reason for them to stay away from school. For this reason, experts say living in a cockroach-free environment and avoidance of other factors that triggers asthma may help ensure they can breath normally most of the time, reports Sade Oguntola.

How clean is your home? Is it one littered with papers all over? Do you take time to ensure that left over foods are well covered and that you do give any place for cockroaches to thrive.

Even if your sitting room is clean and tidy, do you keep lots of paper stacked in any part of the house that could serve as a breeding ground for cockroaches? Many diseases have been linked to living in dirty environment. While some of these diseases like cholera and dysentery may have nothing to do with such insects like cockroaches, but with diseases like asthma, this is very important, experts have warned.

For many children, even when they are protected from major cause of asthma such as dust mites, dog dander and outdoor air pollen, ensuring their homes are rid of cockroaches is also important.

Asthma is commonly seen in children. It is a leading cause of hospital admission. Children with asthma may be able to breathe normally most of the time. When they encounter a substance that can cause problems (a “trigger”), an asthma attack (exacerbation) can occur.

Granted, many parents of children with asthma may have been told that such children should be protected from such things as tobacco smoke, animal hair, dust, pollen, unsupervised or strenuous exercises and infections such as the common cold, in recent seasons, ensuring homes are rid of cockroaches is joining the rules of asthma triggers to be observed.

Cockroaches live all over the world, from tropical areas to the coldest spots on earth. When one cockroach is seen in the basement or kitchen, it is safe to assume that at least 800 cockroaches are hidden under the kitchen sink, in closets and the like.

Cockroach allergen are derived from several sources, such as saliva, fecal material, secretions, cast skins, debris, and dead bodies of these insects. The amount of cockroach allergen in house dust or air can be measured. and in dwellings where the amount is high, exposure is high and the rate of hospitalisation 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.

In recent years, there has been a worldwide increase in the number of children with asthma. In Nigeria, Professor Adegoke Falade, a consultant peadiatrician at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, said asthma affects as many as 1 out of 20, and 1 out of 10 of the 6 and7 year olds and 13 and 14 year olds, respectively of urban school children in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Prof. Falade stated that the incidence of asthma has risen dramatically in the past 20 years - a period too short to reflect any significant changes in the gene pool. This supports the important role that environmental influences (allergy, infection, lifestyle, and diet) have on the development of asthma.

According to Prof. Falade, no one really knows for sure why more and more children are developing asthma, but both a genetic predisposition and environmental lifestyle factors are necessary for asthma to develop. There is also the link to environmental factors, including air pollution considering the fact that indoor triggers can play just as much of a role as outdoor triggers in bringing on an asthma attack.

Children’s airways are narrower than those of adults. This means that triggers that may cause only a slight problem in an adult can create more serious problems in children. In children, an asthma attack can appear suddenly with severe symptoms.

Prof. Falade stated that the case of more and more children developing asthma in the past 20 years, a period too short to reflect any significant changes in the gene pool, could equally supports the important role that environmental influences (allergy, infection, lifestyle, and diet) have on the development of asthma.

No one really knows for sure why more and more children are developing asthma, but some experts suggest that children are being exposed to more and more allergens such as dust and house dust mite, air pollution, and second-hand smoke. Others suspect that the children are not exposed to enough childhood infections because of improved hygiene and health care. It is believed that this decrease in the incidence of childhood infections would stimulate the immune system in a direction that enhances the development of bronchial asthma Still others suggest that decreasing rates of exclusive breastfeeding for the first four months of life allows allergens in formula feeds to pass on to the young infant, therefore stimulating the immune system in the direction that favours development of asthma.

The symptoms of asthma include, frequent coughing spells, which may occur during play, at night, or while laughing; rapid breathing and complaint of chest tightness or chest “hurting”. Also, there could be a whistling sound (wheezing) when breathing in or out and shortness or loss of breath and a feeling of weakness or tiredness. It is important to know that cough may be the only symptom present. Keep in mind that not all children have the same asthma symptoms, and these symptoms can vary from asthma episode to the next episode in the same child. Also, note that not all wheezing or coughing is caused by asthma.

In children under five years of age, the most common cause of asthma-like symptoms is upper respiratory viral infections such as the common cold. So if your child has problems breathing, take him or her to the doctor immediately for an evaluation.

Dr. Olumide Sogaolu, a consultant chest physician at UCH, Ibadan, explained that it has been fully established in Nigeria that some foods and environmental conditions such as smoke and dusts can worsen allergic problems like asthma. “Different people have different asthma triggers, meaning what different people would react to will be different. Though there must be some genetic predispositions, there must also be environmental exposure It is because of this same reason that some would have reaction to some perfumes, soaps and even insecticide.

He said that in the case of asthma, people must be mindful of cockroaches in homes as well as dust mites. Cockroaches have been linked with asthma in homes where there are lots of them.

He said many factors have been linked with asthma, stressing “there are a lot of things associated with asthma; dust mites, pet animals such cats and dogs, stress, emotional factors, flowers and even pollens. Some do not tolerate ordinary fumes from kerosene stove, some do not tolerate smoking and some have allergic reaction to the use of aspirin. So the word with asthma is variability, even in individuals, the way the person will react today may be different from the way the person would react the next day. That is why asthma is usually taken as individual case.

There is no fool-proof method to prevent asthma attacks. The best way to reduce the number of attacks is to eliminate triggers and follow the asthma plan that you develop with your doctor. When families take control of their home environment, asthma symptoms and attacks can be significantly reduced.

Here are some easy to follow tips for creating an asthma-healthy home:

•Get rid of dust mites. Use dust mite resistant mattresses and pillowcases.

•Never eat in bed and replace mattresses regularly.

•Opt for blinds and shades rather than heavy drapes and curtains.

•Wash children’s plush toys regularly.

•Waterproof the home to avoid mold and mildew by fixing leaky pipes and avoid carpeting where moisture can get trapped and encourage mold.

•Avoid irritants such as scented candles and air fresheners.

•Avoid wood-burning fireplaces and kerosene heaters.