Can cockroaches actually cause tuberculosis? This can be a tough question to answer because the truth is, they might be able to but they are not the only things that can cause tuberculosis.
Myth or Fact: Can Cockroaches Cause Tuberculosis?
Fact:
Cockroaches CAN carry and transmit Tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is a contagious disease, and it’s spread via the airways when an infected person exhales droplets containing the TB bacteria.
Tuberculosis bacteria are spread when a person with an active form of the disease sneezes or coughs and those droplets contain TB bacteria..
This can happen if you live in close quarters with someone who is infected. The bacteria remain alive for hours after the infected person has left the room.
Therefore, it’s possible to contract Tuberculosis from a cockroach.. So,if you suspect that you have been exposed to Tuberculosis, see your doctor immediately.
ALSO SEE: Can Cockroaches Cause Food Poisoning?
What Is TB?
Tuberculosis, or TB, is a serious bacterial infection that can result in permanent lung damage and even death.
People with TB often cough and sneeze, which can spread the bacteria from their mouth, throat, and lungs to other people. Only 30% of people worldwide with TB know they have it.
How common is TB?. TB is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Other than HIV, TB is the leading cause of death from infectious disease. More than a half-million people died from TB in 2016 alone.[1] About 1 to 2 million people are infected with active TB at any given time.[2]
About 17% of the world’s population has latent (inactive) TB—meaning they were exposed to TB bacteria in the past,
What Happens If I Get Infected?
Even though they are often associated with bacteria, roaches RARELY transfer tuberculosis. But, if it happens to you, please wear a face mask and see a doctor, immediately.
Tuberculosis is spread through droplets that are expelled when an active sufferer coughs or sneezes. Roaches do not expel these droplets and are therefore not a health risk.
When in close contact with infected droplets, roaches would become infected themselves if they were susceptible to the disease.
This is not the case and no evidence exists that roaches can spread TB. There are some diseases that roaches CAN pass on to humans. The most common of these is salmonella, which causes food poisoning.
What Kinds of Diseases Do Roach Maggots Transmit?. Cockroaches are known to transmit cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever, infectious hepatitis and gastroenteritis.
They have also been associated with transmitting plague and other bacterial diseases
Treatment for TB
Tuberculosis, also called TB, is a chronic infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
The bacteria usually attack the lungs and can affect other parts of the body.
The treatment for TB is often antibiotics and some extra oxygen to help patients breathe. It’s important that the patient takes their medication regularly to be clear of symptoms or any risk of spreading TB to others.
Damage Caused by Cockroach and Control
Cockroach infestations can cause major health problems for humans. Cockroaches are carriers of many pathogens and diseases, including those that cause tuberculosis.
In hospitals, the presence of cockroaches in operating rooms is correlated with an increased incidence of surgical site infections.
Conclusion
After much discussion, it was concluded that cockroaches cannot cause tuberculosis. However, there are other bacteria that are found in the environment and on food items which can cause tuberculosis if one contracts them.
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