The presence of cockroaches where we live is often disturbing from some people who have experienced it. In addition to their disgusting appearance, these animals can pose a health threat to their inhabitants. These brown insect animals can produce allergens that trigger allergic reactions or asthma.
Adult cockroaches generally have a length of about 3 centimeters. Meanwhile, female cockroaches are able to lay 10-40 eggs at a time. On average, the female releases 30 eggs in her lifetime.
The young cockroaches that hatch look the same as the adult cockroaches, but are smaller and wingless.
Here are some of the problems caused by cockroaches:
1. Food Poisoning
One grain of rice can feed a cockroach for one week. Cockroaches are able to live and eat anything they find, whether in sewers, trash cans, and other dirty places.
Cockroaches can carry a wide variety of disease-causing bacteria, such as salmonella, staphylococcus, and streptococcus, from something they infest for example on your food or other surfaces.
2. Digestive Disorders
Cockroaches have saliva which allows when they eat something the saliva is left on the surface. In the body of a cockroach, it is able to carry 33 types of bacteria including E. Coli, Salmonella, as well as 6 parasitic worms, and 7 types of human pathogens.
Symptoms include urinary tract infections, indigestion
(diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, typhoid or typhoid fever), to sepsis (blood poisoning).
3. Allergies
Based on research from the journal Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Research, cockroaches are one type of indoor allergen source. This is because allergens found in cockroach droppings, body, eggs, and saliva can cause unwanted allergic reactions.
4. Asthma
Cockroaches are one of the causes of asthma. Asthma attacks can occur if the house is full of cockroaches from the allergens they cause.
Even people without a history of asthma can get asthma from cockroach allergens.
5. Bites from Cockroaches
There are several species of cockroaches that can bite humans. The most preferred part is the nails, eyelids, lips, or other soft parts, sometimes even entering the ear. Cockroach bites can cause sores.
6. Enter the Human Body
The danger of cockroaches to human health is no less terrible is that they can enter the ear.
Mostly while we are sleeping, cockroaches start to move.
Here are tips on how to prevent cockroaches from entering or coming
Keep the room dry
Cleaning the house at least once a week
Cleaning home furniture
Clean the kitchen area as often as possible especially after cooking
Clean up closets and unused items
Don't have any food crumbs left
Do not leave food in the room with an open condition
Make sure to close the water tap tightly and not dripping
Keep food closed
Repair any holes, cracks or gaps in your home
Don't pile up unused cardboard, newspapers, books
Use insect repellent according to the instructions listed
Let's protect ourselves from diseases that can be caused by pests by always maintaining cleanliness.
Follow the steps mentioned above to prevent cockroaches from entering your room.