The study included 66 boys and 21 girls, 48 Caucasian and 39 African-American children from 37 urban and 50 suburban homes. All had moderate to severe allergic asthma.
The researchers hunted for evidence of two different cockroach allergens, called Bla g1 and Bla g2, in the floors, bedding and stuffed furniture of homes. The allergen samples were collected using a handheld vacuum cleaner equipped with individual collection bags.
Detectable levels of cockroach allergen were found in 26 percent of urban and suburban bedrooms, where children spend the most number of consecutive hours. Over 80 percent of the children with cockroach residue in their bedrooms were allergic to the allergens.
Other risk factors, such as age, gender and place of residence, were studied. But none proved as significant as race and family income level.
According to Eggleston, the researchers hope to use this information to perform further studies that better their understanding of the root causes of cockroach allergen.
The study was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID). Other researchers include Sampson B. Sarpong, M.D., Robert G. Hamilton, Ph.D., and N. Franklin Adkinson, Jr., M.D.