Not too many people will shed a tear when a cockroach gets smashed with a shoe or flyswatter. Despite being despised, these critters are survival experts and can even thrive in otherwise unlivable conditions. Cockroaches can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes, allowing them to crawl through any number of filthy fluids in storm drains, sewers, and plumbing. Though a cockroach in your home does not guarantee that you or your family members will get an illness, it is certainly possible for the cockroaches to spread diseases in your home.
What kinds of diseases do cockroaches spread?
Historically, cockroaches have been contributors or even identified as the cause of several disease outbreaks. They do not directly transmit diseases to humans the way mosquitoes do. But by contaminating people’s food and drinks, cockroaches can spread diseases that can be highly contagious.
Dysentery is a disease associated with nausea, vomiting, high fever, and abdominal cramps. It is most commonly transferred to humans through contaminated food or water. Cockroaches are known to transmit this bacteria to people’s food.
Another disease spread by cockroaches is listeria that also comes from contaminated food. Muscle aches, fever, stiff neck, and diarrhea are all symptoms of listeria. It can be especially harmful to pregnant women and can lead to miscarriages.
If a cockroach runs through food or sheds their exoskeleton in the pantry, E. Coli is another food poisoning that cockroaches can transfer to humans. Chills, nausea, fever, and cramping can all be symptoms of the E. Coli the cockroaches left in your food.
As few as 12 hours after eating food contaminated by cockroaches with Salmonella, symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and fever can ruin your day. Salmonella can transfer to your food through cockroaches’ fecal matter and even their vomit.
Call a professional
If you have a cockroach problem, stop it before it turns into a full fledged infestation. Cockroaches lay 50 eggs and some can be full grown in about a month’s time, ready to continue the population boom. A pest pro can stop cockroaches in their tracks by eliminating the adults and eggs. If you do not know where to begin, one phone call can get you on your way to having a cockroach free home. Setting up a regular inspection after treatment will ensure that if any cockroach decides to wander back into your home, they will not feel welcome.
By hiring the experienced team at Nixtermite in San Diego County, you will be comforted to have a thorough treatment plan with the highest priority placed on customer service and safety. If you have a cockroach infestation and you want to keep your family safe from potential diseases spread by cockroaches, give Nixtermite a call today.
