Are Cockroaches Really That Bad?

Cockroaches have long had the reputation of spreading disease when they crawl over food, but new research out of North Carolina shows that they could be causing health issues in other ways as well.  Just last fall, researchers from North Carolina State University released a paper titled “Indoor Allergens and Endotoxins in Relation to Cockroach Infestations in Low-Income Urban Homes.” That is a very long title, but the main premise of the paper is short, cockroaches can cause harm without ever actually touching your food. This paper revealed a threat from cockroaches that many people never consider. The additional health threat that we are beginning to understand is that cockroaches can reduce the air quality in your home. They can spread dangerous allergens and bacterial toxins called endotoxins.

Most people understand that when cockroaches come into physical contact with food in your home, they can spread disease. Cockroaches can spread 33 kinds of bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella. They also carry six types of parasitic worms including hookworms and pinworms. Additionally, they can be the vectors of seven kinds of human pathogens. While it is extremely uncommon, the bacteria cockroaches spread can even enter your bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections.

This study clarifies that there are additional hazards from having a cockroach infestation. Coby Schal, a co-corresponding author of the paper, stated that endotoxins (which are found in abundance in homes with cockroach issues) have “been shown to provoke allergic responses.” If you are in a home or building with a large number of cockroaches it might be the endotoxins from cockroaches, and not pollen, that are creating your allergy symptoms.

This paper emphasizes the importance of getting rid of cockroaches from homes. The bigger the infestation, the worse your air quality becomes, which is why it is incredibly important to get rid of all the cockroaches quickly. This can be tricky. DIY cockroach elimination methods are notoriously bad. These methods often fail because they only kill visible, foraging roaches rather than the entire hidden nest. Even insecticides from well-known and trusted retailers lack the potency of professional-grade products, meaning a homeowner is likely to get rid of some of the cockroaches in their home but not all. Another issue with trying to eliminate these pests on your own, is homeowners are rarely able to address the root causes of the infestation which can be related to sanitation issues and the availability of entry points into the home.

Although this all sounds very daunting, there were some positive findings that came out of this study. When three categories of homes were tested (homes without cockroaches, homes with cockroaches that received extermination service and homes with cockroaches that did not receive help),  the results showed that in most cases, infested homes that received the extermination intervention were rid of both cockroaches and their allergens, and experienced significant declines in endotoxins. This means, after intervention, the air quality in the home significantly improved. Working with a pest control professional, like Cowleys, in a situation like this, can not only eliminate pests, but it can also actually make the air on your home safer.