Asbestos. Radon. Lead. Mold.

What's the next household horror?

How about asthma-triggering cockroaches and mice?

A National Pest Management Association (NPMA) study found that half of all Americans aren't aware that certain pests can aggravate asthma in children.

Hold on.

Before you believe the study is self-serving, science fiction pablum served up to get you to hire a pest control operator -- think again. You are only half right.

The association certainly wants you to hire one of its members to rid your home of pests when they plague your home, and a professional skilled in the latest pest control techniques is best, but the survey's findings are indeed based on medical science.

Mice and cockroaches can really bug asthma sufferers, but pest control operators can't always use conventional weapons in the war against pests in an asthma sufferer's home.

The American Lung Association says asthma, the eighth most common chronic condition suffered by Americans, afflicts nearly 25 million Americans, a third of whom are children under 18 years of age.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways that can be acutely exacerbated during an "asthma attack" triggered by certain conditions.

An asthma attack is characterized by an episode of symptoms including shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, tightness of the chest and related symptoms. A severe onset of symptoms can cause death if the disease is not properly managed.

The underlying cause of the symptoms is narrowed airways -- swelling of the lining, tightening of the muscle, and increased secretion of mucus in the airway.

Airways become narrowed by "asthma triggers" -- including cockroach and mice allergens, according to the New England Journal of Medicine.

"For centuries, we have known that household insects were a nuisance, but now, we're learning they are more and more harmful to our health," said Cynthia Mannes, NPMA spokeswoman.

"This knowledge makes it that much more important for homeowners to have their homes inspected for signs of insect or rodent infestation. In addition to treating a home to remove pests, pest control professionals can offer tips to prevent reinfestation."

Orkin Man isn't a cure-all

But here's where the association's study falls short. Households with an asthma sufferer needs to do much more than call the Orkin Man to manage triggers.

Asthma triggers are not a short list, but a host of substances commonly found in the home and other buildings including cigarette smoke, dust, mold, animal dander, feathers and food. Triggers also include a variety of indoor and outdoor air pollutants including ozone and pollen as well as respiratory infections, colds, exposure to cold air or sudden temperature changes, excitement, stress, exercise and others.

In addition to obtaining specialized medical care, asthma sufferers often employ an elaborate asthma trigger abatement program at home.

The Lung Association says asthma patients typically maintain one or more carpet-free room, they use alergen-impermeable mattress covers and keep surfaces, window covers and closet areas clean and free of dust.

They also often employ air conditioning, cleaning and filtration appliances and, at times, dust masks. Others who clean for them use vacuum cleaners with air filters.

Asthma sufferers typically disallow cigarette smoking and wood burning appliances indoors and may ban from the home furry or feathery pets including dogs, cats, birds, hamsters guinea pigs and the like.

While those with asthma manage dust, dust mites and mold, they also control the use of aromatic substances including perfumes, talcum powder, deodorizers, as well as cleaning and other chemicals, including aerosolized pesticides.

As with any home, a clean home helps reduce the need for calling in a pest control operator. Pest control operators are only called in, again, much as in any other home, when the pests get out of hand. And pest terminators in the home of an asthma sufferer must take special care not to use chemicals or deployment methods that could themselves become asthma triggers.

"There are some good products available. The industry has developed some good products, baits and such, that are not harmful. Don't use sprays. In days when we only had sprays that were aerosolized, we ran into problems. We have better products now, safer products, that aren't in the air," said Dr. Floyd Malveaux, dean of The College of Medicine at Howard University, during a recent NBC Today Show interview.

"The parent of a child with asthma needs to do more than that, you need to seek help from a physician and an asthma doctor in particular. And you should work with a certified professional to deal with pests in the home. Get professional advice for both," said Malveaux, who has been active with preventing child exposure to environmental hazards in the home and elsewhere.

Published: August 9, 2002

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Broderick Perkins parlayed a career in old-school journalism into a contemporary digital news service that really hits home. The award-winning consumer journalist, originally from Wilmington, DE, is founder, publisher and executive editor of the bootstrap DeadlineNews Group, a Silicon Valley-based editorial content and consulting service specializing in residential real estate, consumer news and related editorial consulting services. The DeadlineNews Group includes the website, DeadlineNews.com, offering real estate editorial content and consulting services, and its back shop, the Deadline Newsroom, an open house on news that really hits home. Perkins obtained his formal journalism education from University of Delaware and a journalism boot camp, the Institute of Journalism Education at the University of California-Berkeley. He went on to 20 years of service as a daily newspaper journalist at the Wilmington, DE News Journal and San Jose, CA Mercury News. Perkins covered housing on the San Jose Mercury News reporting team which earned a General News Reporting Pulitzer Prize in 1989 for coverage of the Loma Prieta earthquake. He has also produced real estate, consumer and small business content for the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, RealtyTimes.com, Nolo.com, Better Homes and Gardens, the National Association of Realtors, Homestore/Move and Intuit/Quicken among more than three dozen publications. In addition to managing the DeadlineNews Group, Perkins most recently served as chief editorial consultant for Nolo's Essential Guide To Buying Your First Home, Nolo, and writes real estate television scripts for RealtyTimes.com.