Cockroaches are one of the most disgusting and least welcome pests in the UK and beyond. They are unsightly but can also pose serious health risks to the human body. When large swarms or infestations arise, the dangers presented dramatically increase.
In terms of human health cockroaches present high risk. As they are drawn to human food, they can quite easily cause food contamination which in turn can lead to humans becoming of ill health. Cockroaches both defecate and regurgitate on the food they eat which can lead to them passing nasty unwanted bacteria onto the food which can cause bacterial infections in humans. A bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa is commonly found in cockroaches and can easily be transmitted to humans. In addition, the Salmonella bacteria can be spread by cockroaches and it can cause food poisoning to typhoid. Cockroaches can also cause allergic reactions within humans. They are reported to have most allergens within urban residents where 20-60% of people are allergic. These symptoms can range from itching and redness to severe asthma.
There are some even more unpleasant dangers of cockroaches which involve close encounters with humans. They will eat anything, so this can sometimes include humans. However, this is incredibly extreme and unlikely to happen. Other ways they can pose harm to humans is by crawling across the body and face and can potentially enter body cavities causing bacteria and germs to be transmitted to the human body.