Cockroaches are among the most common household pests that can affect your health and overall quality of life negatively. The droppings these creatures leave behind are also equally dangerous for your health. If you are consistently seeing roach poop in your house, it is a sure telltale sign that you might be dealing with an infestation.
Knowing what cockroach poop looks like and the health hazards that it can pose is extremely important. This blog will help you understand why ignoring roach poop is not a wise thing to do especially when you are noticing it frequently.
So, without any further ado, let’s take a look at why you need to beware of roach poop and take the necessary pest control steps to avoid health issues.
- What Does Roach Poop Look Like?
- Location Where You Can Expect to Find Roach Poop At Home
- Health Hazards Associated with Roach Poop
- Other Health Risks
- Why Do You Need to Clean Roach Poop Immediately?
- Tips for Cleaning Roach Poop
What Does Roach Poop Look Like?
The exact shape or color of the roach poop depends on its species or the diet it feeds upon. Commonly, roach poop is in the shape of 1mm wide small, dark, ovular pallets with a segmented appearance in the form of ridges down the sides.
Certain types of cockroaches like the American roaches leave behind darker cylindrical droppings with noticeable ridges and slightly blunt ends. These droppings are about 1/8th of an inch in size or approximately equal to a grain of rice.
Smaller species like German roaches, for example, produce poop that looks a lot like pepper or ground coffee with a wet texture.
Location Where You Can Expect to Find Roach Poop at Home
Now that you know what roach poop looks like, let’s go one step ahead and see what are the possible spots in your house where you can expect to find these. This will further help you with immediate cleaning as well as cockroach pest control.
- These are mostly found in kitchens or bathrooms.
- You can also come across these droppings behind refrigerators, under cabinets, or nearby pantries.
- You can also find these in areas like basements, utility rooms, etc., that provide warmth and moisture which roaches need to thrive.
- In the case of bathrooms, look behind drain pipes, sinks, or cabinets.
- You can also find these in washing rooms near the bucket stacks or behind the washing machines.
Health Hazards Associated with Roach Poop
Following are a few main health hazards or disease spread by cockroaches or roach poop
1. Asthma
The roach poop contains allergens that can become airborne. These allergens are especially dangerous for people who are prone to asthma attacks. Prolonged exposure to these feces can worsen your asthma symptoms which creates serious concerns for vulnerable individuals.
2. Disease Carriers
The roach poop carries harmful microbes like E. coli or Salmonella which can lead to food poisoning or other digestive issues. Apart from that, the faeces are also known to spread 33 types of harmful bacteria as well as countless other pathogens that are extremely harmful to human health.
3. Eye and Skin Irritation
Coming into contact with dried feces or inhaling dried particles can also trigger eye infections as well as skin irritation. This can lead to symptoms like watery eyes, itching, rashes, and incessant sneezing.
4. Leprosy
The Bacillus Mycobacterium found in the roach poop can cause leprosy. This virus-based disease affects the health of your skin, eyes, as well as nerves.
5. Other Health Risks
Exposure to roach poop can also lead to dysentery, diarrhoea, cholera, or typhoid fever. Over time these health issues can exacerbate due to weakened immunity. This is why you need to take the necessary steps to nip this evil in the bud.
Why Do You Need to Clean Roach Poop Immediately?
It is clear that you cannot ignore roach poop lying around your indoor space from the above discussion. It affects your health in many ways. Apart from that the poop from these creatures can also act as a pheromone for other roaches. This is another reason why you need to get rid of it as soon as possible.
The chemical composition of the faeces of the roaches gives other nearby cockroaches signals that they can find food or water sources nearby. So, if you leave the dropping unattended, soon it can invite others which increases the risks of infestations.
Tips for Cleaning Roach Poop
Following are a few things you can do to clean cockroach poop the right way
- Wear gloves and a mask before starting the cleaning to minimize exposure to the allergens.
- Take a damp cloth and use it to clean the surface and collect droppings. Then you can use a disinfectant spray on the surface. After that, rinse the surface thoroughly.
- If you are removing the dropping from electronics make sure to unplug these and then gently brush off the droppings. Then you can apply isopropyl alcohol to the surface and let the device dry.
- Make sure to clean your hands thoroughly once you are done.
To prevent future infestations, you can
- Maintain cleanliness and eliminate food sources near the hiding spots of the roaches.
- Seal cracks, gaps, or other entry points.
- You can also set roach traps to make sure they are caught early.
Conclusion
Cockroach droppings can pose serious health risks if you do not take the right cleaning and preventive measures as soon as you notice the first signs. From disturbing your gut health to causing skin infections and from triggering asthma to exposing you to harmful bacteria, the poop from these creatures can be a real nuisance.
This is why you need to educate yourself and your loved ones on what the roach poop looks like and how to get rid of it. It can help you create a healthier indoor environment that is free from the health hazards that roach poop can pose.
Visit Lulu Pest Control & Cleaning Services today to get the best residential as well as commercial pest management services in Dubai.