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Nobody welcomes cockroaches into their home, but sometimes they sneak in anyway. These pests aren’t just unappealing; they pose major allergy and asthma risks due to their saliva, droppings, and skin shedding.

If you have allergy symptoms but can’t find the source, it’s possible that your home is one of the 63% of U.S. residences that contain cockroach allergens. Make sure you understand how to identify and diagnose your cockroach allergy so you can efficiently eliminate the source of your symptoms.

Why Do Allergies Develop?

There are certain substances in the environment, like ragweed in the fall and pollen in the spring, that can trigger the immune system to act as if it is fighting off a foreign invader. When the immune system jumps to action like that, it creates histamines in the bloodstream that create unpleasant reactions like coughing, nasal congestion, skin rash, wheezing, and ear and sinus infections.

Your Cockroach Allergy

The German cockroach is the most troublesome in homes and is directly associated with causing asthma and allergy symptoms, The American Cockroach, also known as the Palmetto Bug in the south, is just as common and problematic. Since roaches adapt easily to most environments and are attracted to the warmth of buildings and homes at night, it’s possible to suffer from roach allergies all year long.

The following symptoms indicate that you could have a roach infestation causing allergies to roach saliva, waste, and body parts:

• Sneezing and coughing
• Runny nose and congestion
• Itchy, red, and watery eyes
• Itchy skin or skin rash
• Asthma conditions like chest tightness and difficulty breathing

Keeping Cockroaches Out of Your Home

Keeping your home clean, sealing garbage cans, and quickly fixing leaks will all minimize how attractive your house is to cockroaches, but an infestation is still possible, especially since many cockroaches enter your home by crawling under the door or latching onto grocery bags and boxes.

Make sure you get tested for a roach allergy to confirm the cause of your symptoms, then call a pest control company to eliminate the source of your symptoms. 24-7 Labs offers simple allergy testing to help you reclaim your health and wellness. Call (813) 932-3741 today to learn more.