If American cockroaches were simply disgusting, they would be considered nothing more than a nuisance, rather than a pest. However, these insects pose several threats to the inhabitants of the buildings that they infest. Let’s take a look at the threats posed by the American cockroach.

Bites

While American cockroaches have the ability to bite people, these bites rarely occur, and when they do, they pose no health threat. They do however have strong spines on their legs, which can pierce the skin, and since the roaches carry pathogens and bacteria on their legs, a scratch can easily become infected.

Diseases

American cockroaches are capable of carrying and spreading over 30 pathogens, bacteria and parasites. When it comes to food-borne bacteria, they can spread salmonella, streptococcus, and staphylococcus. On top of that, they also carry diseases such as as typhoid fever, cholera, and dysentery. American cockroaches will pick up all of these diseases as they travel through sewage and garbage, and then, as they come into contact with our own food, they will inadvertently lay down these bacteria and pathogens.

Allergies

If spreading diseases wasn’t bad enough, it turns out that cockroaches are capable of causing allergic reactions by their mere presence. This is because cockroaches have certain enzymes in their saliva, urine, feces, eggs and body parts, which are spread in the environments that they inhabit. These allergens or enzymes are widespread throughout the US, with the National Pest Management Association estimating that 63% of US homes contain cockroach allergens. In urban areas, that number can be as high as 98%. To make matters worse, children are more susceptible to these allergens, and studies have shown that buildings in areas with a higher concentration of cockroaches have higher rates of childhood asthma

Getting rid of American cockroaches

Because of these threats, getting rid of American cockroaches is essential as soon as you notice the first signs of an infestation, and in order to remove the roaches, you will need the help of a pest control pro. A pro will be able to remove the existing cockroach population in the building, and then lay down preventive measures that will lower the odds of a reinfestation. If you would like to know more about the threats posed by these roaches, or if you have an infestation that needs to be removed, give us a call and we will assist you right away.