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Cockroach asthma: case report and literature review
J Pola1, C Zapata, R Valdivieso
1Allergy Service, Ramon y Cajal Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
Allergologia Et Immunopathologia
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Cockroach allergy can trigger perennial asthma and rhinitis in children. Immunotherapy offers a successful treatment option for cockroach hypersensitivity when common allergens are ruled out.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Allergology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Insects are significant inducers of allergic reactions.
- A 12-year-old boy with a family history of atopy presented with perennial asthma and rhinitis since age 5.
- Symptoms exacerbated during pollination and were linked to domestic antigens, with positive tests for dust mites.
Observation:
- The patient reported a significant cockroach infestation at home.
- Skin tests, RAST, and bronchial provocative tests (BPTS) using cockroach extract yielded positive results.
- BPTS demonstrated both immediate and late asthmatic responses to cockroach allergen.
Findings:
- Cockroach hypersensitivity was confirmed as a cause of the patient's allergic symptoms.
- Successful immunotherapy led to symptom improvement.
- Treatment correlated with increased blocking antibody production and reduced white cell sensitivity.
Implications:
- Cockroach sensitivity should be considered in perennial asthma cases unresponsive to typical allergen avoidance.
- This highlights the importance of environmental cockroach control in managing allergic respiratory diseases.
- Further investigation into the prevalence and impact of cockroach hypersensitivity in the region is warranted.