Health Problems Caused By Cockroaches

Do you have a problem with cockroaches infesting your home? In this article we will look at a range of health problems caused by cockroaches and how you can get rid of the insects.

A cockroach is a reddish brown insect that has a negative connotation amongst almost every single person in the world. Just the mere appearance of a cockroach is truly disgusting. But cockroaches are much more at home on Earth than we are, because they date back to the prehistoric era, around 70 million years ago. In fact experts believe them to be the only creatures who could survive a nuclear explosion.

 

 

Cockroaches are very hardy creatures. They rapidly adapt to be able live alongside humans and other animals in every single environment imaginable. There is not one place in the world that a cockroach wouldn’t go. Many people in the UK are facing a cockroach infestation every single day. Seeing them crawling across the floor, running down the plug hole, lurking near rubbish. Or even in the corners of your fridge.

Not only will you be embarrassed to have a cockroach control problem in your home, cockroaches also silently contribute negatively to you and your family’s health. On their own, cockroaches don’t cause any diseases but they are the carriers for millions of bacteria and germs that can lead to a huge array of illnesses, such as diarrhoea and food poisoning. The health problems caused by cockroaches are therefore numerous.

 

Ways Cockroaches Impact Our Health

• Contaminating food – Cockroaches can eat anything to keep themselves alive. As well as eating what we eat, cockroaches also feast on dead plants, animals, faecal matter, glue, soap, leather, paper and strands of hair. When they crawl around our homes, especially in our kitchens, they contaminate everything they touch. So if you leave food out on the side or do not store food in the fridge, you are leaving it open to be contaminated by a cockroach. They will defecate on the food, then leave behind hair and dead skin. As well as depositing empty egg shells on it. All of this can make your family incredibly ill.

 

 

• Spreading disease-causing bacteria – When a cockroach feeds, they will regurgitate and throw up their own saliva and digestive fluids from their mouth. This means they will inject food with any germs or bacteria that have been residing in their gut. A specific bacteria known as Pseudomonas Aeruginosa has been shown to multiply extensively in a cockroach’s stomach. It’s this bacteria that can cause several diseases like urinary tract infections, sepsis and digestive problems.
• Bites – Some specific species of cockroach have been known to bite us and other animals too. This has only been in very rare cases. But if you’re experiencing a really heavy infestation of cockroaches the chances are that they will be nibbling on your fingernails. Or toes and other soft parts of skin. Cockroach bites cause wounds, and can also spread diseases straight into your blood stream.
• Body invasion – As well as cockroaches invading your home, they can also invade parts of your body too. There have been several known cases of cockroaches entering ear and nose canals while people have been sleeping. Small cockroaches can easily enter any of your body orifices without being detected if you’re in a deep sleep, which is incredibly dangerous for your health.
• Food poisoning – Having a cockroach infestation in your home or business will significantly increase the chances that you and those around you will become ill with food poisoning. Cockroaches carry Salmonella, which is the most common cause of food poisoning. But can also cause more serious diseases such as typhoid.
• Allergies – Cockroaches can cause allergies for those who suffer from them. They will secrete saliva and body parts around your home. These contain hundreds of allergens that can trigger serious reactions. The symptoms of these allergies range anywhere from skin rashes, sneezing and watery eyes to more serious reactions like breathing difficulties.

 

 

• Asthma – If you or anyone in your home suffers from asthma, having a cockroach control problem can be life threatening. They are the mortal enemy of asthmatic people. Having cockroaches in your home increases the chances of asthma attacks. Cockroaches cause these by the allergens they secrete. Having them in your home can cause severe complications and can result in deadly consequences. For those people who aren’t asthmatic, cockroaches can trigger asthma through the inhalation of their allergens over a long period of time.

 

Keeping Your Home Cockroach-Free

Follow these simple tips to keep your home cockroach free and protect you and your family’s health against the health problems caused by cockroaches.

Keep your home as clean as possible. A clean home means there is nothing to attract cockroaches, so you won’t see any sign of these ugly insects. Clean your entire house every single week. If you do see any signs of a cockroach problem during your cleaning, make sure to treat it immediately.

 

 

• You should clean areas like sinks and food preparation counters every single day. Leftover food, even the smallest crumb, is a huge attractor for cockroaches. Leaving these out overnight will lure a cockroach in. Then you won’t see the insects until they scuttle past you on the way to their next feast.
• Empty your bins, inside and outside, regularly. You also need to make sure you cover them and that they are not overflowing. Even a small pile of rubbish will act as an open invite to a cockroach, so take out the bins as often as necessary.
• Don’t leave food out in the open at night. You can prevent attracting cockroaches into your home. You can also protect the food from contamination and making you ill. Store all of your food properly in airtight, sealed containers. You also need to clean your fridge out regularly, at least once a week, to get rid of any food that is not required.
• Never store old newspapers, books and magazines open. Cockroaches love paper, and especially love eating the glue on the binding of books. Remove this temptation by investing in proper storage for your reading material.
• Pest control is a must if you have a cockroach infestation. The health problems caused by cockroaches are too serious to ignore. You need to call in a professional pest control company such as ourselves. Then make sure you practice pest prevention and proper sanitation once we have carried out the treatment.