Dangers Cockroaches Pose to Florida Families

Florida is a melting pot for cockroaches. We have German cockroaches. We have Australian cockroaches. We have Asian cockroaches. And, not surprisingly, we have American cockroaches. But no matter what nationality of cockroach gets into your Florida home, it is always bad. Roaches are drawn to filthy things. They feed on the carcasses of dead animals. They crawl around in dumpsters. They even eat feces! You should never allow these dirty insects to live in your home. Here are some ways those dirty insects will make you sick. Some of them may surprise you.

There are many ways to get sick. You could get a virus. You could pick up an internal parasite. You could be exposed to harmful bacteria. You could be affected by allergens. Cockroaches can make you sick in all of these ways. Let's take a look at each of these.

Viruses

Cockroaches are linked to the spread of at least seven human pathogens, including polio, which can lead to nerve injury, paralysis, and sometimes death. These pathogens can spread through mechanical transmission (attaching to the outside of roaches) or through exposure to cockroach droppings. The gut of a roach is a microbe's paradise. The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, for instance, was found to increase multiple-fold in the gut of a cockroach over the course of a 114-day study.

Parasites

Have you heard of Ascaris? Most people haven't, so don't feel bad. Have you heard of Toxocara? How about hookworm? That one you probably know. While hookworm is 7th on the list of the parasites that can be carried by cockroaches, its name gives the best visual picture. That is probably why it is so widely known. All you really need to know is that cockroaches pick up parasitic worms and bring them into your home. When they deposit them in your foods, you can get sick for an extended period of time and experience some very unpleasant symptoms.

Bacterium

We could bore you with a long dissertation on each of the many bacterium cockroaches can spread but you probably wouldn't read it. And we don't blame you. The bottom line on bacteria is that there are more than 33 specific kinds of bacteria spread by cockroaches which include Salmonella and E. Coli, two you're probably more than aware of. Bacteria can have many effects on the human body, the most common being stomach distention, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Allergens

Studies have revealed that cockroaches can have a significant impact on those who suffer from asthma. The presence of cockroaches in homes was found to increase the number of trips to the hospital for asthma-related complications, especially for children and the elderly, and especially in Urban areas.

Other Dangers

It may seem like it can't get any worse, but it actually can. When cockroaches get into a home, they have some disgusting habits. They commonly get on the bristles of toothbrushes because they eat toothpaste. They climb up to the mouth of sleeping people to take a drink of saliva, especially babies that have the smell of milk on their breath. And they nibble on the dead skin in the eyelashes of sleeping people. This can lead to skin irritation, pink eye, or worse. Those roaches can also bite when they get hungry enough, though it is rare.

What to Do About Cockroaches

If you're seeing cockroaches in your Florida home, take immediate action. Those insects don't just look gross. They are gross is every possible way. Don't let them spread illness in your home. Reach out to Keller's Pest Control. When it comes to eliminating cockroaches inside Florida homes and preventing cockroach infestations from taking root, our team is one of the best in the industry. We offer one-time cockroach extermination as well as ongoing cockroach protection with our residential pest control service. You can get coverage for these dangerous pests with our introductory-level Pest Protection Basic service. This service covers cockroaches and over 20 other common Florida pests, and it comes with our Pest Free Guarantee.

While every cockroach that comes into your home isn't going to make you sick, their ability and propensity to spread illness is too great to take the risk of letting them stay. Get your protection in place today.