Can Cockroaches Make You Sick?

When you live in Greater Jacksonville, you get used to seeing cockroaches. These pests are common in the area and First Coast communities, and when something is common, people sometimes start to overlook that thing. However, ignoring cockroaches that you see in your home is a mistake. These pests breed rapidly, and an infestation of any size can be dangerous for everyone in your home. Learn more about the risks associated with a cockroach infestation and how to keep your home cockroach-free.

Types of cockroaches in Greater Jacksonville

Greater Jacksonville is home to several different cockroach species. American, Asian, Australian, German, and Surinam cockroaches are all active in our region.

American cockroaches are large roaches that grow up to two inches in length. They are reddish brown with a yellow figure eight mark behind their heads. American cockroaches have wings and can fly short distances.

Asian cockroaches are about half an inch long. They are light brown with two dark brown parallel stripes down their backs. These roaches are strong fliers.

Australian cockroaches look very similar to American cockroaches. You can tell them apart because Australian cockroaches are slightly smaller than American roaches and have yellow bands on their wings.

German cockroaches are often confused with Asian cockroaches. However, German cockroaches are slightly smaller than Asian cockroaches and don’t fly, even though they have wings. German roaches are more common in Jacksonville homes than Asian cockroaches.

Surinam cockroaches are about an inch long. They have dark brown, shiny bodies. Surinam cockroaches can’t survive for long in temperature-controlled environments, so they do not typically go inside homes.

Can cockroaches make you sick?

It’s natural not to want bugs in your house, but is there any reason to worry if cockroaches enter your home? Unfortunately, there is. If you end up with a cockroach infestation, there is a chance that you or a family member will get sick.

Cockroaches spend their time in a lot of unsanitary places. They hang out in sewers and drains, crawl over animal waste and carcasses, and live in garbage. Once roaches get into your house, they may spread pathogens they picked up in their travels around on the surfaces in your home.

Studies have found over 30 types of bacteria on cockroaches, not including the viruses and other pathogens they may carry. Cockroaches are known to spread illnesses such as E. coli, salmonellosis, and listeriosis. They can even spread diseases we rarely think about anymore, like cholera and typhoid fever.

Additionally, the shed skins, saliva, and waste products from cockroaches can cause allergies in some people. These allergens can also trigger asthma symptoms.

How to identify a cockroach infestation

Because they can harm your health, you must eliminate a cockroach infestation as quickly as possible if they get into your house. Knowing the signs of a cockroach infestation will help you quickly identify an issue. These signs include:

• Seeing live roaches. They are most active at night.
• Seeing cockroach droppings. These typically look like coffee grounds or pepper flakes and are most often in the areas where cockroaches hide.
• Finding shed skins or egg casings.
• Noticing a musty odor.

If you notice any of these things, there’s a good chance you have a cockroach problem.

How to prevent cockroaches 

Keeping cockroaches out of your house is easier than trying to get rid of them after they’ve entered your home. Cockroach prevention is possible by implementing the following recommendations:

• Address moisture issues inside and outside your house.
• Seal all possible entry points into your house, no matter how small.
• Store food in airtight containers.
• Keep your kitchen clean and free of food particles.
• Reduce clutter in your home.
• Take out the trash regularly.

By being proactive, you can make it much less likely that cockroaches will enter your house.

What to do if cockroaches get into your home

If you think cockroaches are already in your Greater Jacksonville home, you need cockroach control right away. Waiting to act will make the infestation even more significant, making your chances of getting sick much higher. Lindsey Pest Services offers the pest control you need to eradicate your cockroach problem. All of our home pest control plans provide coverage for all species of cockroaches.

We provide high quality, affordable, and guaranteed pest control for homeowners in Greater Jacksonville and along the First Coast. Check out our plans and pricing below, or contact Lindsey Pest Services to learn more about our services or to schedule your free inspection.