Hospitalization for asthma is associated with cockroach exposure in the homes of children in New Orleans, LA

Allergy to proteins shed by arthropods and mammals plays an important role in triggering inflammation in the human airway. Children living in inner cities have a disproportionately high prevalence of asthma. To investigate the relationship between arthropod-derived allergens in inner city homes and morbidity in children with asthma we conducted this cross-sectional study of 86 children in New Orleans. Asthma morbidity was assessed by standardized, validated questionnaires. The allergic sensitizations of each child was determined by blood tests for IgE binding to German cockroach and house dust mite. Exposure to arthropod-derived proteins in the home was determined by monoclonal antibody assays performed on household dust. Consistent with other studies on children with asthma, we found a relationship between asthma morbidity and exposure to cockroach proteins in household dust. Children exposed to cockroach allergen were five times more likely to be hospitalized than children not exposed. There was no relationship between exposure to house dust mite proteins and asthma morbidity, even among children with house dust mite allergy. Incorporating data on human health into pest control studies may help determine appropriate intervention thresholds. Evidence of a significant health impact may help sustain funding for cockroach control in inner city homes, where the socioeconomic barriers to the procurement of effective IPM are substantial.