Let’s Talk Cockroach Allergy

Almost everybody knows, allergies are intolerance of the body to certain substances. As our reliance on, and usage of chemicals in the form of food, cosmetics, and household items are increasing, allergic instances are rising as well.

Every human has about 20 thousand genes, each gene has many alleles. Which allele we inherit determines our susceptibility or resistance to an allergen. Added to that, environmental factors play their decisive part too. So, its highly personal situation. Result is, diagnosis of all form of allergies are not feasible!! A person can be vulnerable to a list of allergens, which might change with age, drugs taken, lifestyle factors, cross-reactivity with other allergens, among many other variables.

Even doctors can’t help much in this regard. It’s up to the patient to keep track of the irritants and eliminate intake or exposure of them..

It may seem intriguing why people vulnerability differs. Someone can relish shrimp curry and roasted peanuts, while you develop painful lip swelling. Someone enjoys spring meadows, while you catch cold bouts and runny nose. Someone gets to try the new cosmetic, while you develop hives.

Its all down to ‘genetics’ and ‘inflammatory state of the body’. Nothing much can be done about that. Avoidance is the key for a healthy life.

Let’s discuss cockroach allergy. I was not aware of it, until our apartment got infested and I turned sick. We kept it rather, tidy, but we really have no control over the neighbors and their activities. The cockroaches found way to our apartment.

My immune system was provoked in unprecedented way, and I endured four-year-long health scares. Rashes, hives, asthma, amenorrhea, itching, multiple sclerosis, vasculitis, glands swelling, food allergies, smelly sweat, depression. If my spouse touched my wrist, my hyper-surveilling immune system caused rashes. Just about every health issue followed. You can imagine my plight. Through this misfortune at the prime of life, I used to tell my mother, ‘I am learning such mechanism of immune system, I would never have learned if my body was not the battle ground, if I was not the laboratory mouse. let is continue, as I am learning some critical facets of how our body operates.’ Eccentric, but it was full of epiphany and eureka moments. It added depth to my understanding of human pathologies.

How I brought back myself from this quagmire, without medications, but rigorous discipline to good health and two health kids, is my most-important achievement.

So, lets learn some aspects of cockroach allergy.

Cockroaches are not only scary and filthy to look at, they are source of number of allergens. These hydrolytic enzymes can easily sensitize susceptible people and lead to asthma, atopic dermatitis, rhinitis, and many more. Frequent inflammation can cause many autoimmune diseases.

As soon as the first cockroach shows up in your house, be alert and take stringent measure to eliminate them. As they say, if one cockroach is seen, there must be 800 more, hidden near-by.

Squishing them is no good, as it exposes their body extracts, which can be blown by air around the house. The chitin, feces, and eggs, all of them are enough to make you sick and take your peace of mind.

For us chemicals worked well in eradicating the pesky bugs. But the insecticides have their own adverse consequences, yet, they helped get rid of them. So, their use in moderation is the best solution against the infestation, from my experience. The way of application matters too. I would make a small puddle of the chemical on the kitchen and bathroom floor and sweep the roaches into that. Also, I mopped the floors every other day with chemicals, which deactivated the allergens. We got the house cleaned by professional fumigator. The bugs would even hitchhike on my backpack to my workplace. That was added guilt feeling.

If my spouse had heeded to my suggestion to change house, I would not have used the chemicals, but he though what's big deal with a bug! He was unaware, just like most people. That’s why awareness is a necessity! We don't have to wait till flood water reaches to our neck level.

Don’t consider anti-histamines to be an easy solution, they just give momentary relief. Also, steroids can interfere with your immune system, not a good choice.

I lived in a decent neighborhood in San Diego and always had a good health. If I can be a victim of this allergy, in my anticipation, many more can be. Hope, my experience and wisdom will help.

Note: I am researcher, microbiologist, medical writer, and bioinformatician. So, I managed to observe, reduce inflammation and escaped from the dangerous situation. It was immense uphill battle, my most important battle so far.

If you think, you or anybody you know, suffers from such allergy, I can answer queries.