How Dangerous Is It To Have Cockroaches In My McAllen Home?

When you see a cockroach in your home, or you find cockroach droppings in a hidden place, you might wonder: "How dangerous are cockroaches?" It's a fair question, and one you should definitely be asking. Today, we're going to take a look at some of the ways McAllen, TX cockroaches can be dangerous and offer up some tips to mitigate these threats. As always, if you need immediate assistance, you can reach out to us here at BUGWORKS Pest & Termites. Okay. Let's get into it.

Can Cockroaches Bite?

This is the first question that needs to be addressed. There are many pests in our McAllen service area that are dangerous because they have venom or they spread harmful diseases when they bite. This is the most common way serious pest-borne diseases are spread. Can cockroaches bite? Yes. But, we're happy to say that they rarely do, and when they do, they're not known to transmit diseases this way. You don't need to fear lots of cockroaches coming out of hiding in the night and biting you while you sleep. If you're bitten, it is most likely to be by one cockroach, and it is also likely to be by accident. Cockroaches feed on dead skin and don't prefer living tissue. They accidentally bite when they feed on dead skin around the eyes and mouths of sleeping people. If this occurs, there can be swelling. But you're not going to experience flu-like symptoms due to this exposure.

Cockroach-Related Sickness

It is surprising how often we hear: "Can cockroaches make you sick?" This shows a surprising misunderstanding about these pests. Cockroaches are dirty insects and their ability to impact human health is associated with their filthy habits, food preferences, and habitats. Roaches feed on rotting organic matter, feces, and other things that contain microorganisms that are harmful to humans. When these pathogens are carried from dirty places to stored foods, food-prep surfaces, dishes, toothbrushes, and other sensitive areas, sickness can occur. The most common form of bacterial sickness is referred to as food poisoning. You can get food poisoning from putting a toothbrush in your mouth after a roach has crawled on it. In most cases, food poisoning will resolve itself without medical attention.

If a cockroach causes contamination in your home, it is possible for serious disease to occur. Salmonella, E. coli, and other intestinal parasites can cause dangerous flu-like symptoms. Roaches are also linked to leprosy, plague, cholera, typhoid, poliomyelitis, and other dangerous diseases. Can cockroaches make you sick? Trust us when we say, it is best to not have cockroaches in your home!

Cockroach Prevention

You might think of cockroach prevention as something that you do before roaches get into your home, but it is actually helpful even after roaches have gotten in. Good sanitation helps to address the problem of roaches picking up harmful microorganisms in dirty places. Here are a few tips to help you reduce the risk of cockroach-related sickness:

• Keep your trash receptacles clean and covered.
• Clean around appliances, particularly your oven.
• Keep your floors, counters, and shelves clean.
• Keep your bathroom clean.
• If you have a cat, make sure waste is being covered in the cat box.

It also helps to protect your food and other sensitive items.

• Consider storing food in sealed plastic containers if they come in paper or cardboard. Roaches can chew through paper products.
• Never leave food out uncovered.
• Store your toothbrush in a plastic container until your roach infestation has been corrected.

Cockroaches And Asthma

The link between cockroaches and asthma has gotten a lot of attention in recent years. While it has been known for a long time that roach infestations make asthma symptoms worse, recent studies are revealing that this is a far greater threat than was once believed. If you, or someone in your home, suffers from asthma, a cockroach infestation will increase hospital visitations if you live in an urban area. This will increase the risk of serious symptoms and the potential for a fatal response.

There isn't much you can do to prevent cockroaches from aggravating asthma symptoms. The shed skins, saliva, and droppings of cockroaches are what create the problem. No amount of cleaning will stop roaches from leaving allergens around your home. If roach-related asthma problems are a concern for you, you should invest in cockroach control.

The Best Way To Address A Cockroach Problem In McAllen

If you live in McAllen, Texas, and you're dealing with a cockroach problem, we can help. BUGWORKS Termite & Pest Control offers industry-leading solutions for cockroach control and general pest control. We can guide you toward the right services to arrest your infestation and help prevent future infestations. Connect with us today to learn more or to schedule service.