These allergens act like dust mites, aggravating symptoms when they are kicked up in the air. By using Verywell Health, you accept our, GUSTOIMAGES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images. Weber RA. They feed on table scraps, trash, and pet food, but can eat other materials, such as paper goods and other forms of starch. 2009;103(4): A4. If there is a significant cockroach infestation, the use of commercially available insecticide sprays or bait traps may be useful, or a professional exterminator may be required. German Cockroaches. How Can You Develop a New Food Allergy When You Are Older? Skin testing is the most accurate and least expensive way to diagnose cockroach allergy, although testing the blood for IgE to cockroach can also make the diagnosis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. The saliva, feces and shedding body parts of cockroaches can trigger both asthma and allergies. Cockroaches can be found indoors and outdoors, and some species are dependent upon humans for their survival. Have You Ever Heard of an Allergy to Sunscreen? Lastly, allergen immunotherapy with cockroach allergen has been shown to be useful for the treatment of various allergic diseases caused by cockroach allergy, and in many cases reduces or eliminates the need for allergy medications. Oriental Cockroaches. Cockroaches are insects that have been around for hundreds of millions of years and are well-known pests that infest human dwellings. Cockroach allergy is diagnosed in much the same way as other allergies, with the use of allergy testing. 2007;99(2): A4. Some patients may suffer from allergic reactions to a cockroach bite. The journal Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research found that cockroaches are one of the most common sources of allergens worldwide. Usually, cockroaches can be found near sources of food and water, such as in the kitchen or bathroom. Daniel More, MD, is a board-certified allergist and clinical immunologist. Even in colder climates, however, cockroaches can be found, especially where humans live. If avoidance is not adequate to prevent symptoms completely, then medications may need to be used. Cockroaches are insects that have been around for hundreds of millions of years and are well-known pests that infest human dwellings. A cockroach bite can cause inflammation, itching, redness, and swelling in the skin. Avoidance of cockroach typically involves the removal of food and water sources with common sense cleaning techniques, such as cleaning up scraps of food, taking out the garbage, and keeping pet food in sealed plastic containers. He is an assistant clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and currently practices at Central Coast Allergy and Asthma in Salinas, California. Cockroaches are found all over the world, particularly in warmer climates. Read our, Medically reviewed by Corinne Savides Happel, MD, Medically reviewed by Jurairat J. Molina, MD, Verywell Health uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The major cockroach allergens come from droppings, called frass. While cockroaches don't bite, they're considered dangerous because they can be an allergen source and asthma trigger, and may carry harmful bacteria. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Weber RA. Ⓒ 2020 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. She owns Corpus Christi Allergy Associates in Corpus Christi, Texas. In addition to carrying various bacteria that can be transmitted to people, cockroaches are known to cause or worsen various allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. Enzymes in proteins found in cockroaches are thought to cause allergic reactions … The treatment of cockroach allergy involves three key steps: Avoidance, medications, and immunotherapy. Asthmatic patients are at greater risk to suffering from an asthma … Allergic reactions may occur when the roach comes into contact with a patient’s skin; when the proteins present in the body, feces, or saliva of a roach triggers adverse immune system response; when airborne allergens present in body and waste of roaches are inhaled. What You Should Know About Peanut Allergies. The National Pest Management Association reports that 63% of homes in the United States contain cockroach allergens. Just like cats, dogs, or pollen, cockroaches can cause allergies. Crash Course on the Most Common Food Allergens, A Vitamin D Deficiency Can Make Your Allergies Worse, Learn What the Different Seasonal Allergies Are and How to Treat Them, From A to Z: Learn How to Manage Your Food Allergies With Ease, Coping With Fear When You Have a Food Allergy, What You Should Know About Seasonal Allergies and Pollen Allergies, Find out What Happens When You Have a Bee Sting Allergy and Get Stung, Shellfish Allergy? In addition to carrying various bacteria that can be transmitted to people, cockroaches are known to cause or worsen various allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. The airborne cockroach particles then enter the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and lungs, and set up an allergic reaction in people with allergic antibodies against the cockroach. The allergens tend to be heavy, similar to dust mite allergen, and are only likely to be airborne with activities such as sweeping or vacuuming. You Need to Avoid These 19 Different Sea Creatures. While there are thousands of species of cockroaches, the American cockroach (scientific name Periplaneta americana) and German cockroach (scientific name Blatella germanica) are most likely to cause allergies. The choice of medication for cockroach allergy is based on the symptoms that occur, rather than based on the specific allergen that caused the symptoms. Can Non-Traditional Pets Cause Allergies, Too? A very common skin reaction to bites from German cockroaches, American cockroaches, or Oriental roaches is an allergic response. Jurairat J. Molina, MD, is a board-certified allergist who has been practicing in field of allergy and clinical immunology for the past two decades.