Cockroach: what do cockroach bites look like?

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Cockroach bites - title

table of contents

  • Do cockroaches bite?
  • This is what cockroach bites look like
  • What are the consequences of a bite?
  • frequently asked Questions

Everyone knows them, many fear them - cockroaches. You love rubbish and dark corners, but do they also bite people? You can use these characteristics to identify the cockroach's bites.

In a nutshell

  • Cockroach bites are extremely rare
  • the bite itself is painful but harmless
  • critical are the diseases that can be transmitted by the cockroach bite

Do cockroaches bite?

Depending on the species, the different types of cockroaches that occur in our country feed on wood and plant matter or primarily, of course, on leftover food, rubbish and rubbish. Regardless of the exact nutritional basis, this is a effective, powerful chewing device indispensable. Cockroaches can even bite through thick leather. It is therefore not surprising that their jaws can also work their way through human skin without any problems.
However, cockroach bites are extremely rare. Possible causes for attacks on humans are, for example:

Cockroach (Blatta orientalis)
Common cockroach, Blatta orientalis
  • extremely dry environment
  • no drinking water in the form of moist food etc.
  • extremely high number of cockroaches

Note: There are horror stories known that cockroaches when looking for water mainly attack the corners of the eyes and lips of people as a particularly damp place. Such an infestation has not yet been proven in our latitudes. Instead, the bites only occur in absolutely exceptional cases on the freely accessible skin areas of the arms, hands, etc. on.

This is what cockroach bites look like

A cockroach bite hardly differs from other bites or stings from other insects:

  • red center
  • Reddening of the bite site decreases from the center to the periphery
  • swelling

The visible features are also accompanied by pain that is usually delayed in time, depending on the location of the bite and Cockroach species can be much more intense than insect bites, ant bites or other, more frequent impairments of the skin.

Cockroach bites are very rare

What are the consequences of a bite?

The actual bite of cockroaches is of course an injury to the skin. However, this heals quickly, so that reddening, swelling and the sensation of pain subside after just a few days. The great danger is therefore far more from the injury as a possible access point for pathogens to the human organism. First and foremost, some dangerous pathogens play a role, which are often even transported by the cockroach itself:

  • hepatitis
  • anthrax
  • Salmonella
  • tuberculosis
  • Leprosy (rare)

Note: In addition to the cockroaches as carriers of the disease, the bite site also offers a starting point for completely "normal" pathogens for every injury. Possible consequences are therefore local infections or tetanus, to name just the most common.

frequently asked Questions

What do I do after a cockroach bite?

If the bite is typically successful at night, possible germs have already migrated into the wound by morning. Nevertheless, disinfect the bite site to prevent further infections. You can get the symptoms under control with ointments against insect bites and a cool pack. Monitor possible changes in your health and seek medical advice if symptoms occur.

I keep getting bitten in bed. Are those cockroaches?

If you get bitten repeatedly and often at night, there are usually no cockroaches at work. Your mattress is probably infected with bed bugs. The animals are much smaller and specifically look for humans as hosts in order to feed on their blood.