Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

The Korea Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (대한기생충학·열대의학회)
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Effectiveness of education for control of house dust mites and cockroaches in Seoul, Korea

  • JEONG Kyoung Yong (Department of Parasitology and Institute of Tropical Medicine) ;
  • LEE In-Yong (Department of Parasitology and Institute of Tropical Medicine) ;
  • LEE Jongweon (Department of Parasitology and Institute of Tropical Medicine) ;
  • REE Han-Il (Department of Parasitology and Institute of Tropical Medicine) ;
  • HONG Chein-Soo (Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University, College of Medicine) ;
  • YONG Tai-Soon (Department of Parasitology and Institute of Tropical Medicine)
  • Published : 2006.03.01
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Abstract

We evaluated the efficacy of health education in reducing indoor arthropod allergens in Seoul. The mite control measures comprised the use of mite-proof mattress and pillow coverings, regular washing of potentially infested materials, maintenance of a low humidity, removal of carpets, and frequent vacuum cleaning. Cockroach control measures included trapping, application of insecticides, and protecting food. Of 201 homes enrolled in October 1999, 63 volunteers were included in a 2-year follow-up survey between April 2000 and January 2002. Before intervention, the density of mites/g of dust varied greatly; 27.1/g in children's bedding, 20/g in adult bedding, 7.2/g on the floors of children's bedrooms, 6.8/g in sofas, 5.9/g on the floors of adult's bedrooms, 3.9/g on living room floors, 3.7/g in carpets, and 1.9 mites/g on kitchen floors. The predominant mite species and house percentages infested were; Dermatophagoides farinae $93\%$, D. pteronyssinus $9\%$, and Tyrophagus putrescentiae $8\%$. Comparing 1999 and 2001 infestations, before and after 25 mo of education, mite abundance was reduced by $98\%$, from 23.7 to 0.57 mites/g of dust. In 1999, cockroaches were detected in $62\%$ homes: $36\%$ Blattella germanica and $35\%$ Periplaneta spp., including $9\%$ double infestations of B. germanica and P. americana. Following intervention, cockroach infestation rates decreased to $22\%$ of houses in 2000 and $23\%$ in 2001. We conclude that continuous and repetitive health education resulted in the effective control of domestic arthropods.

Keywords

References

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