Cockroaches are among the most loathed home invaders around. If you’ve seen one, there are likely many more lurking nearby. This is one reason why it’s important to contact a pest control expert as soon as you spot one. It’s even more important if you think anyone in your home has a cockroach allergy. Here are some of the most significant cockroach allergy symptoms to look out for, as well as effective ways to keep these critters out of your home.

Your Guide to Cockroach Allergies

In a joint report, the National Pest Management Association and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America stated that more than 60% of homes in the U.S. are also home to cockroaches — a number that jumps to as much as 98% in urban areas. In addition to being unwelcome guests, cockroaches are a major cause of asthma and allergy symptoms through their saliva, waste, and decomposing body parts. Here are some of the symptoms experts at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology say indicate a cockroach allergy:

• Chronic Coughing

• Nasal Congestion

• Rashes

• Wheezing

• Frequent Ear and Sinus Infections

An allergist can conduct a skin test to confirm whether cockroach allergens are to blame. They may recommend treatment ranging from over-the-counter antihistamines and nasal corticosteroid sprays to prescription medication or allergy shots. Regardless of the medication you use, removal services from a pest control expert are the most direct way to reduce allergy symptoms.

How to Prevent Cockroach Infestations

Cockroaches will set up shop wherever they find a food source and water supply. A licensed pest control expert can properly inspect, identify, and treat your roach problem, but in the meantime, these are some simple steps you can take to keep roaches and their allergens at bay:

• Cut Off Their Food Supply: Seal your food in airtight containers, and make sure your trash container is shut tightly.

• Clean Regularly: Sweep, vacuum, and mop your kitchen and dining room frequently, and take care of crumbs and spills as soon as they happen.

• Seal Your Home’s External Cracks: Pay special attention to places where utilities and pipes go into your house.

• Eradicate Sites that Collect Moisture: Inspect your home for leaky pipes, clogged drains, and blocked gutters. Cockroaches need water just as much as they need food.

• Move Your Firewood: Store it at least 20 feet from your house, and remember to wipe it off before bringing it inside.

Acme Pest Control Co has provided trusted commercial and residential pest and wildlife control and removal services in the Piedmont, NC, area for more than 70 years. If you suspect a pest infestation in your home or business, call these pest control experts at (704) 786-4166 for a quick, affordable, and humane solution. Visit them online for more information about their services. Based in Concord, NC, Acme Pest Control Co is a member of the National Pest Control Association, the North Carolina Pest Control Association, and Angie’s List®.