Cockroaches are known as insects that can cause many diseases. Therefore, you need to know various ways to get rid of cockroaches so that the cleanliness of the house is maintained and you and your family are protected from various diseases caused by these insects.
Cockroaches like dark, damp places, such as near the sink, bathroom, behind the stove, under the refrigerator, drain line, or wardrobe.
Cockroaches live by eating human food scraps, wood fibers or boards, their loose skin, human fingernails, and dirt. These insects can even survive for months without food and water.
In addition, female cockroaches can lay about 1–4 eggs every 20–28 days and each egg contains 35–50 small cockroaches. If not immediately eradicated, cockroaches will multiply and spread various diseases.
Dangers of Cockroaches for Health
Living in a dirty place and often consuming unhygienic food, including human waste, makes cockroaches very well known as insects that spread germs and viruses that cause disease. There are several diseases that can be triggered or transmitted by cockroaches, including:
Asthma and allergies
Dirt, saliva, eggs, and dead cockroach bodies can spread in the air and enter the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and lungs of humans.
This can trigger allergic reactions, including dermatitis, itching, swelling of the eyelids, and serious breathing problems. These allergic reactions are more prone to be experienced by people with asthma or other respiratory diseases.
Bacterial and viral infections
Cockroaches can carry a variety of bacteria, including Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus. Cockroaches also often carry many viruses and parasites, such as worms. No wonder cockroaches can cause various diseases, such as diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, intestinal worms, and typhoid fever.
In addition to the various diseases above, cockroaches can also bite humans, although this is rare. Cockroach bites can cause itching and pain similar to insect bites.
Tips and How to Get Rid of Cockroaches
Although difficult to eradicate overall, the cockroach population in your home can be reduced by several ways to get rid of cockroaches:
1. Keeping the house clean
The key to controlling and reducing the number of cockroaches in your home is to always keep it clean. The following are some steps you can take to repel and reduce the number of cockroaches:
- Wash cooking and eating utensils immediately after use
- Dispose of the contents of the trash regularly at least every 1-2 days
- Clean up food crumbs or drink spills
- Clean the floor of the house regularly by sweeping, mopping, or using vacuum cleaner
- Clean the floor under furniture that is rarely moved, such as refrigerators, cupboards, beds, sofas, or stoves
- Avoid the habit of stacking newspapers, magazines, or cardboard boxes
- Clean storage cabinets, shelves, and drawers, and throw away unnecessary items or objects.
- Put camphor or camphor on the floor and where it looks dark and damp
- Clean the pet's eating and drinking area regularly
2. Close food and drinks
If there are leftovers from food or drinks, it is recommended that you place them in an airtight container, close them tightly, and store them in the refrigerator.
Also, make sure there are no dripping or open sources of water, such as from faucets, leaking pipes, dispensers, or glasses. This is because cockroaches need water to survive. Therefore, damp or wet places can allow cockroaches to easily breed.
3. Closing the entrance of cockroaches
If there are cracks in the floors and walls of the house or small gaps under the doors, make sure you close them to prevent cockroaches from getting into the house. Don't forget to close the bathroom hole which is also the entrance for cockroaches into the house.
4. Use or call a pest exterminator
Apart from practicing the steps above, you can also use over-the-counter cockroach traps and sprays to repel cockroaches. However, make sure you place or use it with care.
If needed, you can also use the services of a pest exterminator to repel cockroaches and other insects by means of: fogging.
Do not underestimate the presence of cockroaches in the house because these small animals can spread various diseases. Therefore, it is important to start doing various ways to get rid of cockroaches so that you and your family's health is maintained.
If you experience complaints or health problems caused by cockroaches, consult your doctor so that appropriate treatment can be carried out. In addition, don't forget to always keep your home clean as the most effective way to get rid of cockroaches.
