Diseases Transmitted by Cockroaches

There are over 3,500 species of cockroaches found throughout the world. Although they are generally docile; they are regarded as among the most disgusting pests that intrude on human things and spaces. They spend their lives scavenging and stops at nothing to get food. They walk over anything including all kinds of wastes to forage for food and can transmit deadly bacteria and viruses into everything. Here are some diseases transmitted by cockroaches.

Food Poisoning is probably the most common disease that cockroaches transmit. They pick-up the Salmonella bacteria from walking over spoiled food and garbage and deposit this into eating utensils when they crawl or defecate on them. They can also contaminate uncovered food. Classic symptoms of food poisoning are frequent vomiting, severe stomach cramps and diarrhea.

Gastroenteritis is a disease than is caused by either bacteria or viruses. The most common source is infected people passing these bacteria or viruses into food they handle infecting other people who consume it. Another source is water contaminated by sewage containing the bacteria or viruses. Cockroaches carry and spread these when they come in contact with infected food or their feces finds its way into sewers and water sources. Gastroenteritis is the swelling of the mucous membranes of the intestinal tract and is often confused with food poisoning which is one of its causes. It is often referred to as stomach flu and causes symptoms similar to food poisoning.

Allergies and asthma are caused by the repeated exposure to dust containing cockroach body parts and feces. These medical conditions can also be caused by the chemical odors that a cockroach body and feces leave behind. The odor is from pheromones that cockroaches emit.

Cholera is another disease that can be transmitted by cockroaches. Cholera is transmitted when a person eats food or drinks water contaminated by the cholera bacterium. The bacterium is prevalent in places of poor sanitation and hygiene, such as those frequented by cockroaches. Cholera oftentimes comes with mild diarrhea or stomach discomfort and sometimes no symptoms at all. In severe cases, it brings frequent watery diarrhea and vomiting leading to dehydration and shock which causes death within hours if left untreated. Typhoid fever is spread when a person drinks water or eats food that has been washed with water containing the bacteria Salmonella Typhi. Symptoms are sustained high fever, headaches, stomach pains, feeling of weakness and loss of appetite. When not treated immediately, as many as 20% of people with typhoid fever die from its complications. The ordeal for people with typhoid fever does not end when symptoms are treated as they can become possible carriers of the bacteria. The illness can return and can be passed on to other people.

Prevention of diseases transmitted by cockroaches

All of the diseases mentioned arise from unclean conditions that encourage proliferation of cockroaches. They multiply at a very fast rate and being nocturnal, they are good at evading people. Their eggs are also resistant to insecticides. People can easily squash or kill adults with insecticides but the most effective way of preventing diseases that they transmit is through cockroach control using knowledge of their behavior and breeding places.

Akkad Pest Control Services

At Akkad, we understand how cockroach infestation can ruin your home life or business. We know that news of cockroach infestation leaking out turns customers and employees away and cause anxiety to your loved ones at home. That is why we offer discreet, effective and quick cockroach control solutions. Our cockroach call out service guarantees a 24 hour response in Dubai and other cities in the UAE.