How Dangerous Is It To Have Roaches In My Tupelo Home?

You're probably already aware that it is not a good idea to allow cockroaches to live in your home. But how dangerous are they really? Can a cockroach kill you? No. A cockroach can't kill you directly. But neither can a mosquito, which is widely considered to be the most dangerous animal on the planet. Today, we're going to drill into the idea of how dangerous cockroaches can be when they get into Tupelo homes. Hopefully, this will give you a better understanding of why you should seek effective solutions to cockroach infestations.

Greater Risk For Those Who Have A Pre-Existing Condition

Cockroaches are drawn to rotting organic matter and they feed on feces. This exposes them to microbial life that, while not harmful to cockroaches, can be seriously harmful to human physiology. When cockroaches get into your Tupelo home, you can expect to experience stomach illness in many forms. Most cases of food poisoning or exposure to bacteria can be corrected on its own, but hospitalization may be required. In rare cases, hospitalization can result in human mortality, due to complications and pre-existing medical conditions.

Cockroach Diseases

Studies have been done on the relation between cockroaches and human health. These studies have led government health agencies to pose strict rules regarding the presence of cockroaches in businesses to protect public health. Which diseases? Here are just a few:

• Salmonellosis
• Toxoplasmosis
• Entamoeba
• Aspergillus
• Cholera
• Diphtheria
• Anthrax
• Tuberculosis
• Tetanus
• And many more

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

Beyond their ability to be a vector for bacteria, parasitic worms, and other organisms that can impact human health, cockroaches can expose humans to harmful toxic chemicals. How? These robust insects aren't just tolerant of organisms that harm humans, they can survive exposure to chemicals that can harm humans. Worse than this, a cockroach has the ability to shed its skin and create a new skin that is even more tolerant to the chemical to which they have been exposed. This makes them even more dangerous to have in your home.

If you have an infestation that consists of a population of cockroaches that have been exposed to chemical agents, you could make yourself seriously ill by spraying toxic chemicals to kill those roaches. This fact has led most licensed pest control providers to use a multi-pronged strategy that does not include applications of toxic chemicals. If you have roaches in your home, don't ever use dangerous chemicals to try to exterminate them. Those chemicals are far more likely to be harmful to you than the roaches themselves.

The Link Between Cockroaches And Asthma

Asthma is a growing concern, particularly with children. Thousands of people die from asthma-related symptoms each year. In recent years, a strong link has been made between cockroach infestation and asthma. It has been found that cockroach habitation within urban structures results in a higher number of hospitalizations for asthma-related issues. These can result in human mortality. If you or someone you love suffers from asthma, you should never allow cockroaches to infest your home. Contact a licensed pest management professional to address your infestation.

Mitigating The Threat

In most cases, cockroaches are not going to present a danger. What you're most likely to experience are routine bouts with flu-like symptoms. You can mitigate this by practicing a high level of sanitation. This is often our first suggestion to Tupelo residents. Here are a few tips:

• Keep your kitchen trash in a covered container and keep the container as clean as possible.
• Remove trash routinely to avoid allowing food to rot inside.
• Store bagged trash in exterior, covered containers.
• Keep exterior trash receptacles as clean as possible.
• If you keep recycling materials, be sure to wash them thoroughly.
• Protect your stored food from contamination by putting products in sealed containers.
• Clean surfaces routinely.
• Clean spills up immediately.
• Deep clean around your oven and other appliances.
• Store dirty dishes in soapy water or clean them as you dirty them. Be aware that keeping dirty dishes in your dishwasher will not likely prevent cockroaches from coming in contact with them. This is not too much of an issue if you don't allow the dishes to sit long enough for the food to rot.
• If you have a cat box, make sure the litter fully covers your cat's waste.
• Deep clean your bathroom and be sure to get every inch of your toilet.
• Consider storing your toothbrush in a plastic protector until your cockroach infestation has been corrected.

Cockroach Control In Tupelo

When roaches become an issue in your Tupelo home, remember that the service team here at McCary Pest Control is always available to assist you with industry-leading pest control solutions. Reach out today for an effective resolution to your cockroach infestation.