Cockroaches cause asthma and allergic rhinitis. Household insects in Thessaloniki are abundant in certain locations: near hospitals, in a large area east of the city center, and in densely populated and old parts of the city.
This is the opinion of experts, which is set out in a study entitled “Cockroaches in the urban network of Thessaloniki – impact on public health” (authors I. Dimitriadou, D. Kavvada, T. Papamitsu from the Department of Medicine ΑΠΘ, G. I. Memetz from the Department of Biology ΑΠΘ , F. Ksistraki and D. Avzhi from the Forest Research Institute). The report was presented at the 10th scientific conference of the Faculty of Medicine ΑΠΘ.
The presence of cockroaches is a major public health concern, as they carry a variety of pathogens and allergens, according to the text of the study. In fact, the allergens they carry cause sensitization of IgE (immunoglobulin E), which is responsible for the development of asthma and allergic rhinitis.
These findings are based on registrations of locations where medical services have used insecticide against cockroaches. In cooperation with companies providing pest control services, 454 locations in the urban network of Thessaloniki were designated, where pest control was carried out during 2019 and 2020.
The announcement states: “Household coleoptera insects are one of the most common insect classes with strong impacts on urban centers as they include various species of cockroaches. In Greece, the main species are Blatta orientalis, Periplaneta americana (Blattidae) Blattella germanica Supella Iongipalpa “.
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