COCKROACH ALLERGEN IN-HOUSE DUST

The cockroach allergen (Bla g 1) content was determined in the floor d ust of 46 homes with recent cockroach extermination in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. IgE antibodies to Blattella germanica, house-dust mite, c at dander, dog dander, and a mixture of molds were determined in venou s blood samples of 46 children (4-12 years) and one of their biologic parents (24-54 pears). Specific IgE to cockroach was also determined i n a sample of the general population studied in a previous case-contro l study, one group (n=20) with and three groups (n=76) without history of cockroach infestation of the home. Cockroach allergen was detected in floor dust from 44% of the homes, with levels up to 3899 ng Bla g 1/g. Seven of the 36 adults and only one of the 46 children studied ha d positive RAST to cockroach. Geometric mean cockroach allergen concen trations in living room and master bedroom of sensitized adults were s imilar to those of nonsensitized adults. In the groups of children wit hout a history of cockroach infestation of the home, positive RAST aga inst cockroach was observed in 16% of the children with respiratory sy mptoms, in 4% of the children without respiratory symptoms, and in 48% of the children with two or more positive RAST to other allergens. Of the 18 children with positive RAST against cockroach, only one had a history of cockroach infestation of the home and 16 (89%) had also pos itive RAST against house-dust mite.