Dust, cockroaches main triggers for asthma

Hyderabad: Dust, cockroaches and pollens are the biggest causes of allergic asthma, according to analysis of reports of five years, collected by a diagnostic centre in India.

The reports from 2013 to 2017 had 63,000 patients evaluated and their IgE levels in the blood for allergens were checked. It was found that dust, mites and pollens were the biggest culprits. Allergens like different types of dust carried by cockroaches, were found to be the number one cause in 60 per cent of the tested patients.

Dr C. Vijay Kumar, senior pulmonologist said, “A cockroach moves around in drainages, sewages and in areas where there is dirt. The allergens that they carry with them have an effect on a person who is suffering from asthma and it could act as a trigger.”

The allergic reaction could range from mild to severe and the major thrust in the management of asthma is avoiding the allergens. Dr B.R. Das, senior researcher said, “Asthma can be caused or worsened by many allergens. Allergy testing is carried out to understand the trigger of a disease and identifying it is important. 

Mites hidden in dust are also one of the most common causes of allergy-induced asthma.” Evidence now states that 90 per cent of childhood asthma and 50 per cent of adult asthma is due to reaction to environmental allergens like dust, pollen, grass, insects and domesticated animals.

Foods leading to allergic reactions account for 15 per cent of triggers. An Indian study on Epidemiology of Asthma, Respiratory Symptoms and Chronic Bronchitis, estimates that 18 million people in India suffer from asthma. The study has found that 2.05 per cent of these people are less than 15 years of age.