Cockroaches are common pests in homes, schools, and workplaces, but just because they’re common doesn’t mean they’re harmless. Cockroaches spread diseases like Salmonella that can cause food poisoning. A source of indoor allergies for many people, cockroaches can be dangerous for people with asthma.
Unlike other common pests such as spiders and ticks, cockroaches don’t typically bite humans. They don’t feed on human blood and usually try to avoid people. It’s not impossible to get a cockroach bite, especially in cases of severe infestation, but it’s very unlikely.
Cockroaches pose more dangerous health risks in two main ways:
- Their skin sheddings, waste (droppings), eggs, and saliva trigger allergies and asthma.
- They carry and spread bacteria that can contaminate surfaces and food.
Cockroaches carry many germs on their bodies, spreading them around as they travel and leaving them behind in their waste.
It’s especially dangerous when the bacteria that cockroaches carry come into contact with surfaces you regularly touch or use to prepare food, or even with the food itself. Many strains of bacteria that cockroaches carry are known to cause foodborne illnesses.
These bacteria include:
- Salmonella: There are several types of Salmonella bacteria, which usually cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. You can get a Salmonella infection from eating or drinking contaminated food.
- Shigella: These infections cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. You can get shigella from eating or drinking contaminated food or by close contact with an infected person.
- Staphylococcus aureus: This bacterial strain, often found on your skin, produces toxins that can cause food poisoning in people who consume contaminated food. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
- Escherichia coli (E. coli): There are many strains of E. coli. Some are harmless, but others cause illness. E. coli infections can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and stomach cramps.
People with cockroach allergies have an immune system reaction to the proteins found in and on the bodies of cockroaches.
This reaction can occur after you come in contact with any part of their body, waste, or saliva, including inhaling invisible particles with these proteins in the air or on surfaces. Living and dead cockroaches both cause allergy symptoms.
Cockroach allergy symptoms include:
- Skin rash
- Itch
- Congestion
- Watery or itchy eyes
- Runny nose
- Postnasal drip
- Sneezing
- Coughing
A cockroach allergy can be serious for people with asthma, causing breathing difficulties, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
How To Reduce Cockroach Allergens
The best way to reduce cockroach allergens is by keeping them out of your environment. If that’s not possible, you can limit their effects on your health with these strategies:
- Run a humidifier to keep indoor humidity at 30-50%.
- Place anti-allergen covers on mattresses and pillows.
- Wash bedding once a week in hot water.
- Get rid of carpeting and other fabrics (like curtains and rugs) that collect cockroach proteins.
Cockroaches need three things to survive: food, water, and shelter. They look for warm, damp areas with access to food and places to hide. Cutting off those things can help you avoid a cockroach infestation.
Here’s how to help prevent cockroaches in your home, school, and workplace:
- Keep human and pet food only in the kitchen, and keep all food and garbage in tightly sealed containers.
- Wipe down counters, cooking surfaces, and tables often to remove crumbs and spills.
- Clean gaps and crevices in your kitchen regularly to remove grime, grease, and food scraps.
- Avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink or on other surfaces.
- Fix leaks to avoid dripping or standing water.
- Run a dehumidifier in bathrooms and basements to eliminate moisture.
- Reduce piles of clutter to eliminate places for cockroaches to hide in your home. This includes unnecessary cardboard boxes and newspapers, which they may also eat.
- Seal potential entry points, such as gaps around doors, windows, and pipes.
What If You Already Have Cockroaches?
If you’ve seen any cockroaches, it’s important for your health to get rid of them quickly. To eliminate cockroaches:
- Place boric acid powder, bait stations, and sticky traps where you have seen cockroaches.
- Make sure to keep any traps or chemical treatments out of reach from children and pets.
- Follow the prevention tips above.
- Call an exterminator for professional help, especially if other strategies don’t work or you have a large infestation.
Cockroaches are common pests that are harmful, even though they don’t bite. They spread diseases like salmonella and trigger allergies and asthma. To prevent infestations, keep food sources covered, properly dispose of garbage, reduce moisture and humidity in your home, and seal up entry points and other spots where cockroaches like to hide.
