When you think of cockroaches, images and connotations of dirtiness and poor hygiene come crawling into your mind. But did you also know that cockroaches can make you quite ill.
Cockroaches are persistent and troublesome pests of homes, restaurants, hospitals, warehouses, offices, and other structures with food handling areas. These insects contaminate food and utensils, destroy fabric and paper products, and impart stain and odour to surfaces they contact.
The medical importance of cockroaches is much greater than generally realized as they have been shown to carry diverse pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacterial flora, different protozoa, pathogenic helminths, fungi, and viruses. Like any biting or walking insects, such as bedbugs cockroaches can be very good transporters and thus can participate in spreading moulds. It was reported that 98% of cockroaches found in medical facilities could carry pathogens on their integuments or digestive tracts.
Cockroaches are universally loathed. One of the primary reasons is because they are associated with any place where there are biological waste products such as sewers, septic tanks, garbage cans, chicken houses, and animal cages. Their attraction to human and animal faeces, rotting food, secretions from corpses, sputum, pus, and the like gives them a well-earned “disgust factor” among the general public. All these moist, organic habitats contain staggering amounts of bacteria, protozoa, amoebae, fungi, and other microbial material
Cockroaches are also a major concern due to the fact they produce several very potent allergens that have been linked to the development of asthma. In fact, cockroaches are the number one cause of allergies among inner city children, and 26% of the US population is said to be allergic to cockroaches. Fortunately, research has proven that good cockroach prevention and control can reduce the level of those allergens in infested buildings.
Cockroaches are universally loathed. One of the primary reasons is because they are associated with any place where there are biological waste products such as sewers, septic tanks, garbage cans, chicken houses, and animal cages. Their attraction to human and animal faeces, rotting food, secretions from corpses, sputum, pus, and the like gives them a well-earned “disgust factor” among the general public. All these moist, organic habitats contain staggering amounts of bacteria, protozoa, amoebae, fungi, and other microbial material
Health risk of cockroaches
Cockroaches serve as a vital source for infectious pathogens, playing hosts to a range of different bacteria. Around 32 different species of bacteria can be found on cockroaches infesting domestic areas. Cockroaches are also responsible for spreading six different parasitic worms and more than 7 other pathogens.
Here are the main diseases and bacteria spread by cockroaches:
- Asthma
- Salmonella
- E. Coli
Asthma
Compared to the other cockroach diseases on this list, asthma is a lot different. As a pose to transmitting asthma to people, cockroaches trigger asthma
Cockroaches trigger asthma through an allergic reaction. Cockroach allergy was first reported. This was discovered when patients developed skin rashes after cockroaches crawled on their skin. It was fully confirmed in 1959 that cockroaches trigger allergic reactions.
It wasn’t until the 1970’s where these allergies to cockroaches also trigger asthma was discovered. Doctors noticed that patients with cockroach allergies showed signs of asthma attacks. Asthma attacks occur after inhaling allergens release by cockroaches.
It is estimated by the WHO that 300m people worldwide suffer from asthma. It has been discovered that frequent hospital visits of children living in cities suffering from asthma can often be as a result to contact with cockroaches. Around 23-60% of people with Asthma are sensitive to cockroach allergens.
E.Coli
E.Coli (Escherichia Coli) is a bacteria commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms. E.Coli is responsible for cause serious food poisoning in their hosts.
Depending on the severity of the virus, food poisoning caused by E.Coli can be treated simply by replenishing fluids and taking antibiotics. The illness usually last between 5-10 days, with most people will be better in 6-8 days.
Typhoid
Typhoid fever is a life-threatening illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi. It is still common in the developing world, where it affects about 21.5 million persons each year. Most cases in developed countries can be attributed to infections picked up overseas.
The easiest ways to avoid typhoid are by being vaccinated and by avoiding risk food and drinks. Persons with typhoid fever usually have a sustained fever as high 39° to 40° C. They may also feel weak, or have stomach pains, headache, or loss of appetite. In some cases, patients have a rash of flat, rose-colored spots. The only way to know for sure if an illness is typhoid fever is to have samples of stool or blood tested for the presence of Salmonella Typhi. Even if your symptoms seem to be gone, you may still be carrying Salmonella Typhi. If so, the illness could return, or you could pass the disease to other people. In fact, if you work at a job where you handle food or care for small children, you may be barred legally from going back to work until a doctor has determined that you no longer carry any typhoid bacteria.
Signs of infection
You might be wondering “how can I tell if I have caught a cockroach disease?”. There are a few signs which can identify as a cockroach disease.
However, it’s worth noting that these diseases aren’t specific to cockroaches, and you can catch them from other sources. Identifying if cockroaches are the route of these illnesses is matching the symptoms with signs of cockroaches.
How can cockroaches contaminate things?
You’ve probably already noticed that cockroach diseases are transmitted through these insects contaminating items which we regularly come in contact with. Cockroaches are pretty much buses for bacteria.
Their search for food brings 
them into areas such as sewers. Sewer roaches pick up a range of bacteria on their feet and skin whilst exploring these dirty underground passages. When a cockroach explores a property after previously dwelling in a sewer, the bacteria they have accumulated and quickly be passed onto anything they come in contact with.
Cockroaches have a pretty wide dietary range. They will eat anything from the ham sandwich in your desk drawer to the feces in your cat’s litter tray. Cockroaches will eat anything! It is because of this that a whole range of different bacteria and diseases can be found in their stomachs and bladders.
Cockroach droppings
Due to a cockroach harbouring many diseases such as salmonella in their stomachs, cockroach feces can harbour a large sum of harmful bacteria. Unlike us cockroaches don’t have a specific area which they use for their toiletry requirements and will defecate on anything. If you come into contact with anything a contaminate with cockroach excrement there is a strong possibility you could contract whatever disease it is infected with.
Cockroach vomit
Just like cockroach droppings, their vomit also plays host to a range of different diseases. You know by now that cockroaches will eat anything, and will rely heavily on our food supplies in an urban environment. But did you know cockroaches regurgitate digestive fluids as part of their eating process? That means that the tasty ham sandwich in your desk drawer I mentioned earlier could come with a side of cockroach diseases.
Cockroach Urine
Cockroach urine is also responsible for transmitting cockroach diseases. Just like with their droppings, cockroaches will urinate anywhere, and their urine also contains harmful diseases. If you have a large infestation on your hands then there might be a chance that a lot of items might be contaminated with cockroach urine in your property.
How to prevent cockroach diseases
The best way to prevent catching a cockroach disease is to reduce the possibility of coming into contact with these pests. The best way to do this is to take the necessary cockroach prevention procedures. This will reduce the risk of acquiring a cockroach infestation, and eliminate the possibility of cockroaches contaminating your property with diseases.
Cockroach prevention
There are a few prevention techniques you can do yourself to help reduce the risk of cockroaches entering your property.
Clean
Ensure that all work surfaces, kitchen counters, desks, and floors are clean and free from food debris and liquid spills as well as emptying out bins daily. This limits the food source available for cockroaches, making your property less appealing to them.
Follow proper hand hygiene
Washing your hands regularly, specifically before eating can help eliminate the germs and bacteria spread by cockroaches.
Seal cracks and gaps
Sealing any cracks and gaps in your property will eliminate the entry points cockroaches can use to get into your home.
CONTACT A PROFESSIONAL: HOW RENIGEN FUMIGATION PROVIDES COCKROACH TREATMENT
Renigen Fumigation has been providing reliable cockroach control services to our customers. When you contact Renigen Fumigation about a potential roach problem, a Technician will visit your property and conduct an exhaustive inspection of the premises.
Our Technicians are trained to find the most common cockroach hiding spots and signs of cockroach activity. A Technician may also place sticky traps on the premises to allow for continuous monitoring as cockroaches are nocturnal.
If cockroaches are present on your property, our Technician at Renigen Fumigation will identify the cockroach species and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan. A number of factors will play into the treatment plan, including:
- Species of cockroach
- Type of property (example: a commercial business that serves food versus a home)
- Type of environment
- Severity of the infestation
single detail. Careful, every wrong move has the potential to turn your fresh start into a nightmare on an endless loop!
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n be fatal. It can also damage the heart causing fatal heart disease later in life. Fever and inflammation are common as are enlargement of the liver and spleen. The infected area will also swell. If left untreated, the condition can become chronic and impossible to get rid of. This happens as the bed bug introduced Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite, through their feces. There is evidence that bed bugs can effectively transmit Chagas disease to live mice which leads to the question: Can bed bugs transmit Chagas to humans? Thankfully, there are no documented cases of bed bug related transmission of Chagas to humans as of yet, but experts have projected that it is still too early to completely rule out the possibility of transmission.
