Health Hazards Associated with Cockroach Infestation in Public Housing

Abstract

Community Pediatrics| May 01 2008 Health Hazards Associated with Cockroach Infestation in Public Housing AAP Grand Rounds (2008) 19 (5): 55. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.19-5-55 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Health Hazards Associated with Cockroach Infestation in Public Housing. AAP Grand Rounds May 2008; 19 (5): 55. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.19-5-55 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All PublicationsAll JournalsAAP Grand RoundsPediatricsHospital PediatricsPediatrics In ReviewNeoReviewsAAP NewsAll AAP Sites Search Advanced Search Topics: allergens, asthma, dictyoptera, public housing, hypersensitivity, internship and residency, medical residencies Source: Wang C, Abou El-Nour MM, Bennett GW. Survey of pest infestation, asthma and allergy in low-income housing. J Community Health. 2008(1);33:31–39; doi:10.1007/s10900-007-9064-6 Pest infestation is a recognized residential health hazard that has been associated with higher risks of asthma symptoms.1 Cockroach allergens have been identified as the most important risk factor in asthma morbidity and mortality for children from low-income urban families and for the elderly.2 Due to financial barriers and lack of adequate maintenance, a disproportionately high incidence of pest infestation occurs in public housing units, and high rates of allergy and asthma occur among children living in them.3,4 Between 2003–2004, 50% of public housing apartments in Gary, Indiana had cockroach infestation and even higher cockroach allergen levels.5 The authors, from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, conducted a survey in two multi-family housing developments (containing 785 apartment units) built in the 1940s in Gary to determine 1) the levels of pest infestations, 2) residents’ perceptions of pest control, and 3) the link between pest allergen (cockroaches, mice) levels and asthma and allergy. Almost 100% of the residents were African-American. Residents who were home and available completed a 15-item questionnaire and underwent visual inspection of their apartments. In those apartments with suspected cockroach infestation, sticky traps were placed to estimate cockroach populations. One week later, dust samples were collected from selected kitchen floors to delineate the relationship between cockroach density and cockroach allergen levels. Prior to the survey, an undetermined number of residents had been provided with professional pest control service based on their requests. Of the 358 surveyed residents, the median length of residence was three years, with the average number of occupants per apartment consisting of one adult and two children. Sixty-eight percent of residents expressed the need for home repair, ranging from repair of doors, windows, and screens to water leaks and fixture repair. Based on inspection, 40% of the apartments were considered clean and without evidence of food debris. The most commonly found pest was the cockroach. While only 26% of the apartments received monthly pest control, 67% of the apartments had observable cockroach bait residue. Of the 101 apartments evaluated for cockroach allergen concentrations, 83% had cockroaches based on trapping. Cockroach antigens correlated positively with number of cockroaches trapped. The proportion of apartments with high cockroach allergen levels was five times the national average in US homes.2 Of the 1,173 residents living in the 358 apartments, 13% had physician-diagnosed asthma, and 9% had an allergy diagnosis. Households with current mouse infestations were 1.9 times (95% CI, 1.1–3.3) more likely to have a child with diagnosed asthma than those without. Although there were residents with known allergic reactions to cockroach, dust, pollen, mold, cat, and dog, no statistically significant relationship was found between asthma prevalence and either cockroach infestation or high cockroach allergen levels, nor between allergy rate and mice or cockroach infestation. Dr. Sriraman has disclosed no financial relationship relevant to... You do not currently have access to this content.