Cockroaches are one of the most feared pests in Alabama—and in the entire U.S. for that matter. They can send shivers down your spine when they suddenly scurry across your kitchen floor at night. But their presence is far more serious than a simple “ick” factor. The health risks of roach infestations are significant and shouldn’t be ignored. Roaches are notorious for spreading allergens and bacteria and contributing to psychological stress. This is why these invaders are a threat to your home and a hazard to your family’s health.
Steel City Pest is here to provide you with the information you need to protect your loved ones. Let’s explore the facts about cockroaches, how they can make you sick, and what you can do about it.
Meet the Bad Guys: Cockroaches in Alabama
You probably already know that cockroaches are some of the oldest surviving species on the planet. Fossil records show they’ve been scuttling around the Earth for at least 300 million years. And as they evolved, they’ve adapted to survive in almost any environment—including your home.
In Alabama, the warm, humid climate makes conditions ideal for cockroaches all year long. Roaches move into people’s homes in search of food, water, and shelter. They’ll scavenge through anything, even eating glue, cardboard, decaying matter, and leftovers. Roaches crawl through sewers, trash, and all sorts of filthy places. In the process, they become dangerous vectors that spread disease to human habitats. It’s important to understand their habits and learn why the health risks of roach infestations should be taken seriously.
Health Risk #1: Allergies and Asthma Triggers
Cockroaches have saliva, droppings, and exoskeletons that contain allergenic proteins. They become airborne and a real risk when they are inhaled by humans. Asthma and allergies are worsened by the dust and particles from the roaches.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ranks cockroach allergens as one of the leading causes of asthma in urban areas. If someone in your home already has asthma, it’s especially important to know how cockroaches can make them sick.
Health Risk #2: Bacterial Contamination
Roaches don’t just carry allergens—they also transport dangerous bacteria on their legs and bodies. They crawl through sewers, trash, and decaying matter, picking up these pathogens on the way. Once inside your home, the cockroaches contaminate your food, utensils, and surfaces.
Common Bacteria Spread by Roaches
- Salmonella – Responsible for food poisoning that causes fever, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.
- E. coli – A common bacteria associated with gastrointestinal infections.
- Shigella – A bacteria that causes dysentery and diarrhea.
The ingestion of this bacteria from eating or drinking contaminated food or water is just one of the serious health risks of roach infestations.
Health Risk #3: Disease Transmission
Roaches are not bloodsucking insects, so they don’t directly inject diseases like mosquitoes or fleas. However, they are very good at indirectly transferring disease-causing organisms.
Viruses, fungi, and parasitic worms can all be carried by their legs and bodies. In healthcare facilities and hospitals, cockroaches can dramatically increase the potential for cross-contamination and patient risk. At home, this disease transfer is also a very real possibility and a major health concern.
Health Risk #4: Worsening Allergies and Asthma Over Time
You aren’t just at risk of sudden asthma attacks or allergies. The exposure to cockroach allergens continues to build up if the infestation is not taken care of. This means that allergy and asthma sufferers will experience increased symptoms. Coughing, wheezing, sneezing, and rashes will become more and more frequent.
In households with children, the effects of roaches on allergies are a major risk. Exposure over long periods can increase the risk of your child developing asthma later in life.
Health Risk #5: Mental and Emotional Toll
Physical health isn’t the only danger with living with cockroaches in your home. There are also serious psychological impacts from pest infestations. Many people experience the following mental health consequences:
- Feelings of stress and anxiety when seeing cockroaches.
- Embarrassment when having guests over to a dirty home.
- Disturbance from lack of sleep because you’re afraid of bugs crawling in the night.
- Feeling like a failure when your DIY treatments don’t work.
Stigma and stress from an infestation can increase your risks of depression and long-term anxiety.
How to Prevent and Control Roach Infestations
Getting rid of cockroaches is a two-part process. You must practice both prevention techniques and take steps to professionally eliminate roaches from your home. Use these proven solutions to help prevent these health risks in your house:
1. Clean Your Home
- Sweep, mop, and wipe down surfaces daily to prevent roaches.
- Take out the trash regularly and avoid dirty dishes in the sink overnight.
2. Seal Your Home
- Fill in cracks, crevices, and gaps around doors and windows.
- Fix leaky faucets and pipes where roaches find damp places to hide.
3. Declutter Your Home
- Remove clutter in storage spaces, like cardboard boxes and stacks of paper.
- Don’t give cockroaches a place to hide in your closets and garages. Store belongings in plastic bins and recycle cardboard boxes.
4. Store Your Food Securely
- Keep food in sealed containers and avoid leaving pet food out overnight.
- Inspect your home regularly, and if you do have roaches, make sure you contact a professional.
Why Steel City Pest?
Roaches can be more than a nuisance in your home. They are a real health risk that can cause stress and anxiety for you and your family. At Steel City Pest, we have the knowledge and experience to help. Our family-safe treatments get rid of roaches at the source, so you don’t have to worry about them coming back.
Our technicians have the expertise to know how to effectively eliminate local cockroach populations in the Birmingham and central Alabama area.
Final Thoughts
Cockroaches are more than a pest in your home. They are a threat to your family’s health that should be taken seriously. In addition to triggering asthma and spreading bacteria, they can also take an emotional toll on your mental health. If you suspect you may have roaches in your home, the time to act is now. The longer you wait, the more health risks increase for you and your family. Contact Steel City Pest today to protect your loved ones and say goodbye to these dangerous intruders for good.
