Background: Allergen avoidance has been shown to improve the morbidity and physiology of asthma. Although cockroach allergen has been implicated in chronic asthma, little work has been reported on the feasibility of allergen removal from infested homes.
Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of professional pest control and home cleaning on cockroach infestation and allergen concentrations in settled dust samples from the kitchens, bedrooms, and television-living rooms of inner-city homes.
Methods: Thirteen homes in inner-city Baltimore, Maryland, received a professional cleaning, with vacuuming and a thorough cleaning in the kitchen. Pest control technicians applied abamectin 0.05% gel to the kitchen and, to a limited extent, to the rest of the home and the cleaning was repeated. Technicians visited monthly from month 2 to month 8 to inspect, collect dust samples, and place passive cockroach traps. Bla g 1 concentrations in dust extract were measured by means of ELISA.
Results: The number of cockroaches captured in passive traps decreased rapidly in 11 homes, but complete extermination was achieved in only 7 homes. Bla g 1 concentrations were reduced by 93% in kitchens, 77% in television-living rooms, and 74% in bedrooms. The relative reduction in cockroach allergen was not related to successful extermination or to signs of poor house-cleaning.
Conclusion: We concluded that cockroach extermination is feasible in inner-city homes but that standard house-cleaning procedures are only partially effective in removing residual allergen over 8 months.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0091-6749(99)70296-4 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
A Retrospective Comparison of Aeroallergen Sensitization Among Different Allergic Diseases in Guangzhou, China.
Mediators Inflamm
January 2025
Department of Otolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China.
Numerous studies have reported on the types of aeroallergen sensitization in various pediatric allergic diseases, but limited data compared the types of aeroallergen sensitization across different pediatric allergic diseases. The aim of this study is to explore the nature and significance of aeroallergen sensitization in diverse pediatric allergic conditions. A comparative analysis was carried out on aeroallergen sensitization in children suffering from allergic diseases who visited the Otolaryngology, Respiratory, and Dermatology Departments between January 2019 and December 2023.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsect Brain Proteomics: A Case Study of Periplaneta americana.
Methods Mol Biol
December 2024
Freelance Researcher and Reviewer, Mumbai, India.
Article Synopsis
- Insects have significant economic, ecological, and medicinal importance, and their sustainable use in human diets and healthcare is gaining attention.
- The brain of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, is immune-privileged and produces important proteins that can contribute to food and pharmacology.
- A study using proteomic analysis revealed that the brain of P. americana contains antimicrobial proteins, allergens, and proteins essential for metabolism.
[Analysis of the distribution characteristics of allergen sIgE detection in patients with respiratory and skin mucosal diseases in a hospital in Shanghai City from 2022 to 2023].
Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi
December 2024
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai200336, China.
Article Synopsis
- - The study analyzed serum allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) in 3,822 patients with respiratory and skin diseases in Shanghai over one year to help understand and improve the diagnosis and treatment of allergies in the region.
- - Results revealed that 88.4% of patients tested positive for at least one allergen, with 72.9% exhibiting multiple allergy sensitivities; the most common allergens included house dust mites, milk, fungi, and certain tropical mites.
- - Statistical analysis indicated that certain allergens like cat dandruff were more prevalent in respiratory diseases, while food allergens like shrimp and crab showed lower positivity rates, providing insights into the allergen distribution for targeted prevention strategies.
Analysis of lethal and sublethal doses: Comparative toxicity of three commonly used pesticides on , an important allergen and vector of pathogens.
Heliyon
December 2024
Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
The study investigates the comparative toxicity of three widely used insecticides-fenitrothion, malathion, and deltamethrin-on , a major urban pest. Using bioassay tests based on World Health Organization (WHO) protocols, we determined the lethal doses 50 (LD) for each insecticide. 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIncorporating Aeroallergen Exposure Metrics into Clinical Asthma Care: A Pilot Study Using A Mixed-Methods Survey to Assess Aeroallergen Knowledge, Perceived Asthma Control, and Mitigation Strategies in Households of Children with Asthma.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol Pulmonol
December 2024
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Mitigation of household allergens is associated with the reduction of asthma exacerbations in those with allergic asthma and is recommended in recent asthma guidelines. However, we need to better understand patient knowledge of aeroallergens in their homes prior to integrating direct allergen measurement methods into standard asthma care. We conducted a mixed-methods sequential pilot study consisting of a survey and virtual interview with caregivers of children aged 3 to 15 with asthma diagnosis (any severity) about asthma control, household environment, mitigation knowledge and strategies, and knowledge of allergens and asthma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!