3 IMPORTANT REASONS TO ELIMINATE COCKROACHES

If you have cockroaches in your home, you might assume this is just an ordinary pest problem and not a big deal. After all, about 63 percent of homes and residences in the U.S. contain cockroaches, so many people live every day with these pests and seem to do just fine.

However, a cockroach problem in your home is not a problem to ignore, even if the problem seems small. These ordinary bugs may be common, but they have an extraordinary reputation for causing problems for people who have them in their homes. Check out this short list of important reasons to eliminate cockroaches from your household as soon as you realize you have them hanging around.

1. COCKROACHES ARE A POTENTIALLY PROBLEMATIC ALLERGEN

Many people who suffer from allergies are unaware of how important to have a pest-free home is. Eight out of ten professional allergists state that cockroaches are one of the biggest problems for people who have allergies or asthma. Even more alarming, many people are allergic to cockroaches and do not even know that they are allergic.

People who are allergic to cockroaches are actually allergic to a protein the cockroaches emit from their bodies. Some of the symptoms of a cockroach allergy include:

•  Stuffy and/or a runny nose
•  Irritated eyes
•  A cough
•  Skin irritations or itching
•  Sneezing
   

Because the proteins the cockroaches emit are the allergen, those who are allergic can have reactions to not only the live bugs but also their droppings, saliva, and particles of their dead bodies. Therefore, continuing to have an allergic reaction to the bugs once they are gone is possible if you do not thoroughly and properly clean and sanitize the household.

2. COCKROACHES CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ILLNESSES

Cockroaches will feed on just about anything, but they prefer the same food sources as you do, which is why they commonly hang out in food preparation areas in the kitchen. Unfortunately, these pests carry bacteria on their bodies and excrete droppings everywhere they go, so if a cockroach gets into something you later eat, they could expose you to serious illness.

Cockroaches are not big-known bugs for spreading disease, but they do carry certain forms of bacteria — such as Salmonella typhi, Entamoeba histolytica, and Shigella — on their bodies, and the bacteria excrete in their fecal matter. All of these bacteria can cause serious human illnesses, such as Shigella and salmonella poisoning.

3. COCKROACHES CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME AND BELONGINGS

Even though rodents and termites have a notorious reputation for causing damage to a home, cockroaches can do their share of damage. They cannot eat through wood as well as termites even though they do eat dead wood in the wild. They will eat anything that is remotely starchy, including some types of wood or wood products. Cockroaches can cause damage to things like:

•  Books, documents, and magazines
•  Wall paneling
•  Wood flooring and trim pieces
   

Additionally, cockroaches in large numbers can take over home appliances like your refrigerator, stove, or dishwasher. Even though you can eradicate the bugs from those appliances, accumulated carcasses, dead cockroach eggs, and droppings can create problems with the appliance being sanitary enough to continue to use.

A few cockroaches in your home may seem like no big deal, but for the health of your home and your family, eliminate all traces of these pests with the help of a professional. Contact us at First Choice Termite and Pest Control, Inc., for more information about our dedicated pest control services and cockroach eradication. We are also happy to answer any other questions you may have.

Read Older Articles