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With fossil evidence proving that cockroaches have been around for more than 300 million years, they are one of the oldest groups of insects on the earth. They are also one of the most common – perhaps because they have been around longest!
We understand that it’s hard to find a reliable and honest pest control service here on the Sunshine Coast. If you are currently experiencing cockroach problems or cockroach infestation at your home or office, we have the ideal cockroach treatment solution that is guaranteed to produce results…fast!!!
Cockroaches prefer to harbour in kitchen areas, roof voids, sub floors and bathrooms – AS close as they can get to feed off food scraps and have easy access to water. Hiding spots of cockroach includes:
During our Cockroach Control service, We provide a fully integrated cockroach treatment. That means we don’t just provide an effective baiting system but we also offer good advice on what you can do to stop the problem from happening again. This includes a thorough inspection of your property. Treatment methods may vary depending upon the level of infestation, the offending pest species and the product which has been contaminated.
Opting for our Cockroach Control service on the Sunshine Coast gives you and your family the peace of mind that the infestation will be dealt with by our professional ‘conscious’ pest control team.
Weird Fact: A cockroach can live for a week without its head. Due to their open circulatory system, and the fact that they breathe through little holes in each of their body segments, they are not dependent on the mouth or head to breathe. The roach only dies because without a mouth, it can’t drink water and dies of thirst.
Cockroaches, those unpleasant and unsightly pests, are not just a problem to look at. They also produce substances, or allergens, that aggravate asthma and cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to those substances. The allergens produced by cockroaches are likely concentrated in their fecal matter and in fragments of their body parts. These tiny particles can become airborne and contaminate the air in your home.
Cockroach allergens behave like dust mite allergens and stick to heavier particles that quickly settle. These allergens do not remain airborne for long. Activities like vacuuming may stir up allergens that have settled in dust or fabrics. The most common way to inhale cockroach allergen is to breathe in dust or allergens that have collected in pillows, bedding or other dust-trapping fabrics. Not only do cockroach allergens trigger asthma and allergies, researchers are exploring evidence that early exposure to cockroach allergen can actually cause asthma to develop in preschool-aged children.
Cockroaches don’t need to be present for there to be cockroach allergen in your home. One in five homes with no history of cockroach infestation has a significant level of allergen in dust and fabrics. Allergen concentrations are generally highest in kitchen areas where there is plenty of food and water to support cockroach infestations. However, bedroom allergen concentrations may be more relevant. People spend significant time in close contact with their pillow, where they can inhale the allergens that have settled into bedding.
Cockroach allergens spread widely throughout homes, schools and other public places. Simple precautions can protect individuals who are particularly sensitive to cockroach allergens.
Cockroach allergy was first reported in 1943, when skin rashes appeared immediately after the insects crawled over patients’ skin. Skin tests first confirmed patients had cockroach allergy in 1959. In the 1970s, studies made it clear that patients with cockroach allergies develop acute asthma attacks. The attacks occur after inhaling cockroach allergens and last for hours. Asthma has steadily increased over the past 30 years. It is the most common chronic disease of childhood.
Now we know that the frequent hospital admissions of inner-city children with asthma often is directly related to their contact with cockroach allergens—the substances that cause allergies. From 23 percent to 60 percent of urban residents with asthma are sensitive to the cockroach allergen. The increase in asthma is not fully understood. Experts think one reason for the increase among children is that they play indoors more than in past years and thus have increased contact with the allergen. This is especially true in the inner cities where they stay inside because of safety concerns.
The job of immune system cells is to find foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria and get rid of them. Normally, this response protects us from dangerous diseases. People with allergies have supersensitive immune systems that react when they inhale, swallow or touch certain harmless substances such as pollen or cockroaches. These substances are the allergens.
Cockroach allergen is believed to derive from feces, saliva and the bodies of these insects. Cockroaches live all over the world, from tropical areas to the coldest spots on earth. Studies show that 78 percent to 98 percent of urban homes have cockroaches. Each home has from 900 to 330,000 of the insects.
Private homes also harbor them, especially if the homes are well insulated. When one roach is seen in the basement or kitchen, it is safe to assume that at least 800 roaches are hidden under the kitchen sink, in closets and the like. They are carried in with groceries, furniture and luggage used on trips. Once they are in the home, they are hard to get rid of. The amount of roach allergen in house dust or air can be measured. In dwellings where the amount is high, exposure is high and the rate of hospitalization for asthma goes up. Allergen particles are large and settle rapidly on surfaces. They become airborne when the air is stirred by people moving around or by children at play.
People with chronic severe bronchial asthma are most likely to have cockroach allergy. Also likely to have it are people with a chronic stuffy nose, skin rash, constant sinus infection, repeat ear infection and asthma. Cockroach allergy is a problem among people who live in inner-cities or in the South and are of low socioeconomic status. In one study of inner-city children, 37 percent were allergic to cockroaches, 35 percent to dust mites, and 23 percent to cats. Those who were allergic to cockroaches and were exposed to the insects were hospitalized for asthma 3.3 times more often than other children. This was true even when compared with those who were allergic to dust mites or cats.
Cockroach allergy is more common among poor African Americans. Experts believe that this is not because of racial differences; rather, it is because of the disproportionate number of African Americans living in the inner cities.
Symptoms vary. They may be a mildly itchy skin, scratchy throat or itchy eyes and nose. Or the allergy symptoms can become stronger, including severe, persistent asthma in some people. Asthma symptoms often are a problem all year, not just in some seasons. This can make it hard to determine that a cockroach allergy is the cause of the asthma.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends that all patients with persistent asthma be tested for allergic response to cockroach as well as to the other chief allergens, dust mites, cats, dogs and mold. Diagnosis can be made only by skin tests. The doctor scratches or pricks the skin with cockroach extract. Redness, an itchy rash, or swelling at the site suggests you are allergic to the insect. Cockroaches should be suspected, though, when allergy symptoms—stuffy nose, inflamed eyes or ears, skin rash or bronchial asthma—persist year round.
If you have cockroach allergy, avoid contact with roaches and their droppings. The first step is to rid your home of the roaches. Because they resist many control measures, it is best to call in pest control experts. For ongoing control, use poison baits, boric acid and traps. Don’t use chemical agents. They can irritate allergies and asthma. Do not leave food and garbage uncovered.
To manage nasal and sinus symptoms, use antihistamines, decongestants and anti-inflammatory medications. Your doctor will also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications and bronchodilators if you have asthma. If you keep having serious allergic symptoms, see an allergist about “allergy injections” with the cockroach extract. They can reduce symptoms over time.
Cockroaches produce allergens that create allergic responses in some people. The allergens are excrement and debris from decomposing cockroach bodies that crumble into tiny particles and become airborne. Although the allergens do not remain in the air for long, vacuuming or dusting can stir up settled particles allowing the allergens to be easily inhaled and cause an allergic reaction. Asthma is simply the allergic response to allergens that are inhaled through bronchial tubes. However, not all elements that are breathed in stimulate allergic responses. Cat dander and ragweed pollen often contribute to allergic reactions but automobile exhaust and fog do not.
Studies on mice have shown the allergic reaction is caused when mucosa (the inner lining of body organs) is exposed to cockroach extract. However, studies with animals create some limitations since humans and animals have different allergic immune responses. But the findings have provided a better understanding of how the human body reacts to allergens.
Scientists are researching the correlation between early exposure to roach allergens and asthma in children age 3-5. A recent federally-funded research project collected air samples from several hundred homes with asthmatic children. The results found that exposure to cockroach allergens alone did not cause the most severe cases of asthma. The combination of children having a predisposition to allergic reactions and the exposure to high concentrations of cockroach allergens is what produced chronic asthma.
Although we cannot yet control what triggers are allergic reactions, we can limit the exposure of allergens to our body. Here are some tips to reduce exposure to cockroach allergens. Exterminate roach infestations – the first step is to eliminate the source of the problem. Most roach infestations require an exterminator to effectively remove the problem. Reduce humidity – Warm, damp areas accelerate the life cycle of roaches. Thorough cleaning habits – Maintaining a clean, tidy home will prevent reoccurring roach infestations. Thoroughly clean areas where food is stored, cooked, or consumed. Pay attention to areas where food might get trapped like underneath kitchen appliances. Wash pillow casing and bed sheets regularly. Remove Carpet – Consider non-fabric flooring if an individual in your home has an allergic tendency. Vacuuming often is another option but will temporarily worsen the air quality because of stirring up allergens settled in the carpet. People with allergies should leave the room being vacuumed for a couple of hours.
Cockroaches are a very significant cause of asthma. They are common in multiple-family dwellings in most major U.S. cities, including expensive apartment buildings, as well as in single-family homes in warm, humid parts of the country. It is estimated that one visible roach represents a population of a hundred roaches living in the walls. Many parts of the cockroach are allergenic, including their bodies, urine, feces, and saliva. When they die, their bodies break down and they become part of the house dust. In old apartment buildings, there may be many years’ roach allergen in the dust, so anyone living in a home where there have been roaches at any time is at risk. While roach allergen concentration is highest in the kitchen, the bedroom is a more important venue for exposure simply because we spend so much time in it. An estimated 6 million U.S. bedrooms contain enough cockroach allergen to cause asthma.
It’s true! In addition to mold, animal dander, dust mites and cigarette smoke, cockroaches make the list of the most common indoor allergens. Exposure to cockroaches’ cast-off skins and airborne roach residue can trigger a response in 80% of those with asthmatic sensitivity. Infants who have prolonged exposure to roach residue are more likely to remain sensitive to cockroaches for the rest of their lives. Children and adults who already suffer from asthma can see their medical condition worsen with repeated exposure. Cockroaches are one of the hardest allergen triggers to eliminate because they are such a pest.
Dust mites, cockroaches, fleas, wasps, bees and other stored product pests have all been known to irritate allergies in sensitive individuals. In rare cases they can cause a severe reaction known as anaphylaxis which can lead to death. Dust mites and cockroaches present an airborne threat. Fleas, wasps and bee reactions are generally caused by direct contact or “stings”. Stored product pests such as grain weevils, rice weevils, and fruit flies to name a few, have been shown to cause reactions when unintentionally ingested in household food items.
Cockroach allergens can trigger asthma attacks in sensitive individuals with an increased incidence found among children. Allergens build up from fecal droppings and shed skin, which become airborne and negatively impact indoor air quality. Cockroaches are prolific, where one is present there are sure to be many, making them a difficult pest to completely eradicate. Asthma is the leading chronic illness among children and adults. Recent studies have shown that prolonged exposure to cockroach allergens can heighten your sensitivity.
Pests can carry and transfer numerous disease causing pathogens and bacteria in and around your home. Cockroaches alone are known to carry 33 different kinds of bacteria picked up from contact with sewage and other decaying matter carried in on the spines of their legs and bodies. Rodents also pose a threat, dropping over 25,000 fecal pellets annually and irritating allergies. They also spread diseases including Hantavirus, which can cause headaches, fever, nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Pests can contaminate food sources within the home causing food borne illnesses. It is imperative that all open food containers, boxes, etc. are tightly sealed and properly stored to avoid access and contamination. Flies, roaches, rats, mice and ants walk and feed on filthy items, carrying germs and bacteria on their feet and bodies and depositing them on food and utensils they come in contact with.
