If you have cockroaches in your home, you need to know that they can spread disease and pathogens. Can you get sick from roaches? The simple answer is yes.
Cockroaches can transmit diseases through their feces, saliva, or contact with your skin. They can also contaminate surfaces and food sources, increasing the likelihood of you and your family getting sick.
Here are the worst cockroach diseases that can spread Salmonella, Listeriosis, and Typhoid Fever, among others.
You need to get rid of cockroaches if you find any in your home just because of the health risks and no one wants bugs in their home.
Cockroach Diseases and Transmission
Cockroach Saliva
Cockroaches can transmit diseases to you through their saliva. When a cockroach walks on your food or kitchen counter, it can leave behind traces of saliva that contain harmful bacteria.
You do not want to keep food on the kitchen counter, and you must store food in airtight containers. If you leave food out and you have roaches in the home, they could walk across the food contaminating it.
Cockroach Feces and Contamination
Cockroach droppings also known as poop is another way that cockroaches spread diseases. As roaches crawl around your home, they leave feces on various surfaces, including kitchen counters, food left out or not sealed, and other areas you use.
The cockroach droppings can contain bacteria and other pathogens that could potentially make you sick. To avoid contamination if you have roaches, ensure you regularly clean and sanitize the surfaces in your home.
Common Cockroach Diseases
Cockroaches can spread diseases, including:
- Salmonellosis: An infection caused by the Salmonella bacteria, which can lead to symptoms like diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.
- Typhoid Fever: A severe bacterial infection that causes symptoms such as high fever, headache, and muscle aches; it’s often transmitted through contaminated food and water.
- Cholera: A severe intestinal infection, caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium, that results in rapid dehydration and, in some cases, death if left untreated.
- Listeriosis: An infection caused by Listeria bacteria that can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
- Campylobacteriosis: Another bacterial infection that causes symptoms similar to salmonellosis, often resulting from ingesting contaminated food or water.
Roaches and Allergies
Asthma and Allergic Reactions
Roaches can cause some serious health problems, especially for people who suffer from asthma and allergies. Exposure to cockroach allergens may worsen asthma symptoms, especially in children.
Breathing in these allergens can cause allergic reactions, leading to symptoms such as chronic stuffy nose, sneezing, itching, and watery eyes.
Cockroach Allergens
Cockroaches contain a protein, and this protein may cause an allergic reaction in some people. That same protein allergen can mix with dust and other particles in the air, that could be inhaled, creating an allergic reaction.
To reduce your exposure to cockroach allergens, consider the following measures:
- Keep your home clean and free of food debris. Roaches are attracted to food sources, so promptly cleaning up spills and keeping food properly stored can help prevent infestations.
- Seal cracks and crevices in your home, as roaches often enter through these small openings.
- Manage humidity levels with dehumidifiers or air conditioners. Roaches thrive in moist environments.
- Frequently vacuum and dust your living spaces, ensuring clean hard-to-reach areas where allergens may accumulate.
- If you notice any signs of a roach infestation in your home, contact a pest control professional to assess and address the issue.
If you do not have cockroaches in the home, you will not have to worry about the allergens they can cause.
Cockroach Impact on Human Health
Skin and Intestinal Issues
Cockroach infestations can have several negative impacts on your health. Exposure to roach allergens can cause you to get skin rashes, itching, and other cockroach allergy reactions.
In addition to skin problems, roaches can also cause intestinal issues. As they scavenge for food, they can contaminate your food with harmful bacteria and parasites, spreading diseases such as E. coli, Streptococcus, and parasitic worms.
Consuming food, contaminated can lead to food poisoning, diarrhea, and fever.
Cockroaches themselves carry various microorganisms, pathogens, and disease-causing organisms on their legs and antennae, which they can spread across surfaces in your home. This can increase the risk of illness, particularly intestinal diseases.
Treatment and Management
You need to avoid health issues caused by roaches, so you need to manage a cockroach infestation quickly:
- Maintain proper sanitation and hygiene in your living space by cleaning regularly and removing any potential food sources for the roaches.
- Seal any cracks or crevices in your home to prevent the entry and breeding of cockroaches.
- Monitor cockroach activity using traps and consider hiring a professional exterminator if necessary.
If you think you have gotten sick due to cockroaches in your home, it is essential to seek medical attention. Consult a healthcare professional to figure out if what you have is caused by cockroaches.
You need to know that having cockroaches in your home or business is very bad. You can get sick from having roaches in your home.
Preventing and Managing Infestations
Hire Pest Control Company
To prevent and manage cockroach infestations effectively, consider hiring a pest control company or exterminator. They can assess your situation, and provide professional advice and solutions.
Insecticide Treatment
In addition, you can use traps to catch roaches and reduce their population in your home. We use insecticides like Temprid FX and Gentrol (Insect Growth Regulator) to stop roaches and kill them dead.
You need to seal cracks and holes in your walls, floors, and foundation, as these are common ways for cockroaches to get into the home. Caulk and seal any areas as necessary.
Keeping Your Home Clean
Keeping your home clean is an essential part of preventing infestations. Focus on the following points:
- Drains: Cover your drains to prevent cockroaches from entering your home. Regularly clean and maintain them to avoid buildups.
- Dirty dishes: Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink for extended periods. Wash them promptly and keep your sink clean and dry.
- Food crumbs: Clean up food crumbs and spills as quickly as possible. Pay close attention to areas under tables, countertops, and appliances.
- Garbage cans: Securely cover garbage cans both inside and outside of your home. Regularly empty and clean them to minimize odors and food residue.
- Sealed containers: Store food, including pet food, in sealed containers to avoid attracting pests.
- Paper and glue: Keep paper and glue products, which can be food sources for roaches, in sealed bags or containers.
By taking these preventive measures and keeping your home clean, you can effectively manage and minimize the risks of cockroach infestations in your living space.
Conclusion
Cockroaches can make you sick and cause you severe health issues. Cockroaches do spread bacteria and other pathogens, which they can transmit through their feces, saliva, or contact with your skin.
Some of the illnesses you may be at risk for include:
- Allergies: Cockroaches are considered to be dangerous as an allergen source and asthma trigger. Exposure to their allergens can cause chronic symptoms that last longer than other seasonal allergies.
- Dysentery: Roaches can carry harmful organisms that cause dysentery due to food contamination. Dysentery leads to severe diarrhea that may sometimes include bleeding and mucus, accompanied by high fever and vomiting.
- Salmonellosis: Cockroaches may carry the bacteria responsible for salmonellosis, a type of food poisoning caused by Salmonella.
To prevent health risks associated with roaches, maintain a clean home, and quickly address any potential infestations. Be vigilant about sealing entry points and maintaining proper sanitation, as well as disposing of food waste properly.
If you can’t get rid of roaches with the DIY method make sure you quickly call a pest control company to help you.
FAQ
What cockroach is the worst for disease spreading?
The German cockroach is probably the worst followed by the American cockroach.
What happens to your home and you if your house becomes infested with cockroaches?
The more cockroaches breed especially the German cockroach since they are able to reproduce at an alarming rate. The more likely you will start inhaling contaminated air from the feces of the cockroaches. This can trigger asthma, especially in young kids. This is why you need to eliminate cockroaches as quickly as possible.
What is the most common way to get diseases and pathogens from cockroaches?
- Roaches can contaminate food by walking across it or eating it.
- Cockroaches pass harmful pathogens with their saliva when they touch or eat food left out, and then you eat that same food.
How to help stop a roach infestation?
Do not give a cockroach a food source, keep cooking surfaces clean, wipe contaminated surfaces, take out the garbage bins frequently, and this will help with your cockroach problem. Use insecticides to get rid of the cockroaches for good.
