Are Cockroaches Dangerous? [Top Health Risks]

Cockroaches rank among the most prevalent and detested pests you can find in your home. They thrive in residential areas, particularly in urban settings where they are attracted to food and moisture. This makes kitchens and bathrooms prime targets for infestation.

Cockroaches are notorious for their ability to reproduce rapidly, making it challenging to remove them from your home. Understanding what they are attracted to can help you prevent an infestation from occuring and get rid of them if one does. 

While everybody can agree that cockroaches are disgusting — are they dangerous?

Yes, they can be dangerous, especially to those with certain pre-existing conditions. Cockroaches can trigger asthma, cause an itchy rash, or set off allergic reactions. There’s a reason cockroach infestations violate health codes for residences and restaurants.

In this article, I’ll discuss the potential health risks of a cockroach infestation, where they come from, and how to remove them from your home.

There are two cockroaches most commonly found in the United States.

Types of Cockroach

Cockroaches are not a single species, but a whole order of insects. Many species of cockroach never invade homes at all. However, there are a few common types of cockroaches that infest homes most frequently in America.

German Cockroaches (Blattella germanica)

German cockroaches have a pale brown body and two distinctive brown stripes behind the head. They are much smaller than their American counterparts — only about a half-inch long. They also have a flatter shape to their body — like a stretched-out football.

American Cockroaches (Periplaneta americana)

These are the classic New York City cockroach. They are much larger than the German variety at around 1.5 inches long. They are reddish-brown in color and have a light-colored band around their head. They are almost the inverse of the German roaches as far as their coloration on the head goes.

Regardless of the type of cockroach you’re seeing, they are all attracted to the same things and can cause many of the same health issues. So the most important thing for pest control is identifying that you have cockroaches instead of another type of pest. This is quite easy — roaches are pretty distinctive.

Where Do Cockroaches Come From?

Cockroaches search for areas that are warm, moist and provide a food source. They commonly inhabit dark and secluded spaces such as cracks in walls, small crevices, drains, dirty dishes and behind appliances. They can find a way into your home through door and window openings or you may accidentally bring them home in a package or grocery bag.

Cockroaches breed and multiply quickly, making it extremely hard for homeowners to get rid of them. Understanding their entry points and habits can help you with pest control measures.

Health Issues Associated With Cockroaches

The danger with cockroaches doesn’t lie in any kind of bite or sting – roaches can do neither, so they won’t hurt you immediately. The real danger with cockroaches is that they are attracted to unsanitary conditions, and they make those conditions even more unsanitary when they show up.

This is the real reason why health inspectors come down so hard on properties with a cockroach infestation. Some of the health risks of a cockroach infestation include asthma/allergens and the potential to spread pathogens, making cockroach control critical.

Cockroaches and Asthma

Cockroaches produce a lot of allergens that are easily disturbed by regular activity in the home and can also accumulate in bedding, clothing, and upholstery. The source of these allergens is usually shed body parts, droppings or cockroach feces.

As if that wasn’t disgusting enough on its own, these allergens are also major asthma attack triggers and can cause skin rashes. The larger the infestation, the worse the triggers.

The relationship between cockroach allergens and asthma attacks has been well-researched. The National Academy of Medicine reviewed the research on cockroach allergens and asthma in their report on asthma exacerbation from indoor environmental exposures.

They found that cockroach infestations are so prevalent in inner-city communities that asthma rates are substantially higher — though this is combined with other factors.

They also concluded that cockroaches need not be present for allergens to become a problem — residual allergens from prior or undiscovered infestations can also exacerbate asthma and allergy symptoms in sensitive individuals.

Cockroaches and Pathogens

Because cockroaches love filth and decay, they can pick up a lot of different pathogens. Research has found that cockroaches can act as reservoirs for a huge array of disease-causing organisms, including E. coli, several parasitic worms, typhoid fever, dysentery, and Salmonella.

It’s important to understand what is meant by a “reservoir for a pathogen”. This is just a fancy word that means that the bacteria lives and breeds there, regardless of whether the pathogen is actively infecting or being transmitted by the host.

As far as cockroaches go, it’s not well-understood whether cockroaches actively transmit diseases directly to humans. There are too many competing factors in homes infested with lots of cockroaches.

However, reservoirs are still an important part of disease transmission. By giving the pathogens a place to set up shop and multiply, the cockroaches can spread those pathogens to various surfaces in your home that you and your food will be touching regularly.

Cockroaches and the Ear Canal

Perhaps the most frightening health issue caused by cockroaches is their tendency to crawl into people’s ears while sleeping.

This sounds like some science fiction horror story, but it does happen if the cockroach is small enough — and most German Cockroaches are. Cockroaches love cramped, damp spaces, so ears seem like a perfect hiding place for them.

Cockroaches in the ear can cause a lot of trouble. One woman had a cockroach stuck in her ear for a full nine days before doctors were able to remove it.

To add to the terror, her doctor told her that he clears an insect from a person’s ear about once a month. So while this doesn’t happen every day, it does happen often enough to be a cause for concern.

How To Get Rid of Cockroaches

Knowing the danger that cockroaches pose to your health and environment you will want to take steps to quickly get rid of them in your home.

To effectively eliminate cockroaches, start by identifying and sealing off their entry points — cracks and gaps around doors, windows, and pipes. Keep your kitchen clean and all food tightly sealed and stored. Promptly clean up spills and crumbs to remove potential food sources.

Use cockroach baits and traps strategically placed in areas where cockroaches are active. An effective way to get rid of cockroaches is by using diatomaceous earth (DE). To apply DE, sprinkle a thin layer of dust in the areas that cockroaches are found — under appliances, basements, inside cabinets. DE is safe for you and your pets.

Consistency and thoroughness are key to removing cockroaches and preventing their return. If you have a severe infestation, I recommend contacting a local pest control professional.

Not a Pest To Take Lightly

The only good thing about cockroaches is that they do not bite or sting. They don’t pose an immediate threat the way that other insects like wasps or fire ants do. However, once these pests come into your home, eliminating them can be challenging. Weeks or even months of intense treatment can be required to fully eliminate them.

The health risks of cockroaches are very serious and aren’t fully understood. Clearing a cockroach infestation quickly is the best way to deal with these risks and keep you and your family healthy and happy. A proactive approach not only provides a healthier environment but also protects your family from potential asthma triggers, allergens, and the spread of disease-causing pathogens.

By taking proactive measures, you can keep cockroaches out of your home. If they do manage to get in, acting quickly will protect the health of you and your family. If you have a severe infestation and DIY methods are not effective, promptly contact a pest control professional.