Pests and Pets
Why do people have allergies?
 People with allergies have hyperactive immune
systems that think harmless things, such as pet
dander, are dangerous. Their bodies react to try to
fight off the danger.
What are symptoms of allergies?
 Itchy, stuffy nose
 Red eyes
 Coughing
 Wheezing
 Shortness of breath
 Rash
Review Question 1
 Which of these is not a symptom of allergies?
 A)red eyes
 B) coughing
 C)nausea and vomiting
 D)shortness of breath
What is asthma?
 Asthma is a disease that causes inflammation and
narrows the airways, making it difficult to breathe
 Asthma cannot be cured, but flare ups can be
prevented
What are symptoms of asthma?
 Coughing
 Wheezing
 Chest tightness
 Shortness of breath
Review Question 2
 Which of these is not a symptom of asthma?
 A)wheezing
 B) shortness of breath
 C)coughing
 D)headache
What are risk factors for asthma?
 Having a blood relative with asthma
 Having allergies
 Smoking or exposure to second hand smoke
 Low birth rate
Review Question 3
 TRUE OR FALSE
 Smoking and/or secondhand smoke is a risk factor for
asthma.
What can cause allergies and
asthma flare ups?
 Pet dander
 Dust mites
 Cockroaches
 VOC’s-volatile organic compounds
 Mold and moisture
Problems with Pets
 15 percent to 30 percent of people with allergies have
allergic reactions to cats and dogs.
What can I do?
 If you do not want to take your pet to a new home, you
can try bathing him very frequently to cut down on the
amount of dander
 Change air filters more frequently than suggested
 Keep pets out of your bedroom
Pest problems
 Dust mites
 Cockroaches
Dust Mites
 20 million Americans have a dust mite allergy
 Adults may lose up to 1.5 grams of skin in a day, which
will feed 1 million dust mites.
 Adults may live for 2 to 4 months
 Dust mites do not cause allergic reactions, but their
waste products do!
Where are dust mites found?
 Dust mites are found in beds, carpeting, pillows,
couches
 A mattress can have 100,000 to 10 million mites inside
 Dust mites feed off of dander (dead skin cells), so any
place dander would be could attract dust mites
Review Question 4
 Adult dust mites can live for:
 A)7-10 days
 B) 1 year
 C) 24 hours
 D) 2-4 months
How can I prevent dust mite
allergies?
 Cover mattresses and pillows with dust proof covers
 Wash sheets and blankets weekly in hot water
 Have someone else do the cleaning in your bedroom,
or wear a mask when dusting or vacuuming
 Wash rugs in hot water
 Use a dehumidifier
 Vacuum the house daily to
get rid of dander that the
mites feed on.
How can I prevent dust mite
allergies?
 Use synthetic instead of down pillows
 Replace wool blankets with cotton or nylon ones
 Keep the thermostat below 70 degrees
 Remove carpeting and replace with tile or wood
 Replace furnace filters often
Cockroaches
 The cockroach allergy can come from their feces,
saliva, and bodies
 Cockroaches can cause asthma attacks
What are symptoms of a cockroach
allergy?
 Itchy skin
 Scratchy throat
 Itchy eyes
 Asthma attacks
How can I manage a cockroach
allergy?
 Call pest control to get rid of cockroaches
 Use poison baits, boric acid, and traps, but be careful if
you have young children
 Do not leave food and garbage uncovered
 Go to the doctor and use antihistamines,
decongestants and anti-inflammatory medications
Review Question 5
 What is the best way to get rid of a cockroach allergy?
 A) clean up the feces daily
 B) get rid of the cockroaches
 C) Use antihistamines
 D) Move to a new house
How do I get rid of pests?
 Make sure to thoroughly clean whole house with soap
and water
 Do not spray pesticides
 Set out Raid traps and baits, but make sure they are
out of reach of children
 Dust with borax
References
 American lung association. (2010). Asthma and children
fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.lungusa.org/lungdisease/asthma/resources/facts-and-figures/asthmachildren-fact-sheet.html
 Asthma and allergy foundation of america. (2005) Pet
allergies. Retrieved from
http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&sub=16&cont=63
 Environmental health and safety online. (2010). Dust mites:
Everything you might not want to know. Retrieved from
http://www.ehso.com/ehshome/dustmites.php
References
 Mayo clinic. (2010). Asthma. Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma/DS00021
 National heart lung and blood institute. (2011) Asthma.
Retrieved from
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/As
thma_WhatIs.html
 U.S. department of housing and urban development. (2011)
About integrated pest management. Retrieved from
http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/healthyhomes/ipm.cfm
Quiz Answers
 1. C
 2. D
 3. True
 4. D
 5. B