A cockroach bite isn’t as dangerous as you may think.
It isn’t common or usual behavior for cockroaches to bite. Sometimes cockroaches do bite pets or people, but only in extreme circumstances. In fact, cockroach bites are so rare that most people will never get one in their lifetime.
Roaches are instinctively fearful of humans and keep their distance. Thus, they do not often get physically close enough to bite people. But a cockroach may bite if the conditions are right.
What do cockroach bites look like?
Roach bites appear as raised red bumps on the skin, similar to mosquito bites, but larger. It can be difficult to differentiate a cockroach bite from other insect bites because they all look similar. Several roach bites might be clumped together in close proximity to each other.
Roach bites can be painful and itchy. An irritating skin rash sometimes accompanies roach bites around their circumference. Roaches don’t inject saliva into the skin like mosquitoes do when they bite, but roaches carry plenty of bacteria, and infection causes swelling and itchiness.
First aid for a cockroach bite
To treat a cockroach bite you may follow the same procedures as you would for a mosquito bite. First and foremost, don’t scratch or pick at a roach bite no matter how much it itches. This is a surefire way to promote infection. Most bites that are left untreated will go away on their own in a few days just like a mosquito bite, so there’s no need to be overly worried.
To promote healing and prevent infection, clean the bite wound twice daily with antibacterial soap and water. In between cleanings, keep the bite wound dry. Don’t go swimming because these are laden with bacteria. After cleaning, it is helpful to cover roach bites with gauze or a Band-Aid to protect them from bacteria. It will only be necessary to see a doctor if the roach bite turns into a serious skin infection.
Once the bite wound has healed and there is no open skin, you may apply topical over-the-counter medicines to help with the itching and swelling. Don’t do so before-hand though, because putting these medicines in an open wound will irritate and promote infection. Hydrocortisone cream 1% is a topical steroid that is great for insect bites and gets rid of rash, swelling, and itchiness. If you have calamine lotion in your medicine cabinet, you can also use this.
How long does a cockroach bite last?
A cockroach bite can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to go away on its own. In this respect it’s not so different from any other insect bite. The healing time depends upon many variables, such as the type of roach that bit you, the specific reaction your body has to that roach bite, and whether the bite ultimately gets a bacterial infection.
Cockroach bites on eyelid
Most roach bites occur at night while the victim was sleeping. Roach bites on the eyelid are common because roaches try to eat the sleep particles that form in our eyelashes while we sleep, leading to a roach bite on the eyelid.
These present a special challenge because of their proximity to the eye. Clean the eyelid bite wound with soap and water at least twice a day, but don’t try to cover it and don’t apply any topical medicine to the eyelid. Getting these medicines into the eye itself can be dangerous.
Other common locations for cockroach bites are on the lips and fingers. Food crumbs and residue often accumulate on the lips and fingers, attracting roaches. When sleeping, a roach maybe eating food particles off your fingers or lips which causes you to move or touch the roach. An instinctual response by the roach may be to bite you.
Are cockroach bites dangerous?
Cockroach bites cause anxiety and fear because people associate roaches with filth and disease. But the truth is that getting a cockroach bite does not pose a serious health risk. Don’t worry too much about it.
First off, you won’t acquire leprosy or other serious diseases from cockroach bites –it doesn’t happen. That is a myth. In fact roach bites are less dangerous than mosquito bites because mosquitoes are vectors for many diseases such as malaria, while cockroaches are not.
The worst thing that can happen to you from a cockroach bite is that it becomes infected with bacteria. Minor infections such as this are easily treated with topical antibacterial creams, or antibiotics if necessary. A roach bite only poses a serious threat to your health if it becomes seriously infected.
So don’t get too worked up emotionally if you think you have a cockroach bite. It’s only as serious as a mosquito bite. And a cockroach bite definitely won’t kill you.
How to prevent cockroach bites and get rid of roaches
It is important to understand that receiving roach bites indicate a significant roach infestation. When there is a large population, scarce resources force roaches to travel farther in search of food and water. This brings them in contact with sleeping humans and animals who may then be bitten.
Remember that for every cockroach you see, there are dozens more that you can not see. It is imperative that you take steps to eradicate the infestation to prevent more roach bites. I recommend you read my full article on how to get rid of roaches.
Tidy your kitchen and clean any food crumbs or scraps on tables, countertops, and floors. It is worth noting that some people may keep an immaculate home but still have roaches. This is especially true in apartments and condominiums where the infestation may stem from the uncleanliness of neighbors in adjacent housing.
Ensure that children in the household have clean skin when they go to sleep. Especially check that there is no food on or around the hands and mouth. Or else, in its search for food and water, a desperate cockroach may smell the remnants of food left on the skin and come closer for a snack.
Do-it-yourself roach killers
Here are a few things roaches hate:
- Boric roach powder: If you want to handle the job yourself, I recommend using boric roach powder. It is highly effective at killing roaches and also very inexpensive. Simply sprinkle it around the edges and corners of rooms, especially where food and water can be found, such as kitchen and bathrooms. Note to pet owners: Pets are generally avoidant of boric powder, but there have been rare cases where dogs that have ingested a substantial amount have incurred kidney damage. So be careful if you have a dog.
- Roach gel bait: A worthy alternative to roach powder, roach gel bait has the advantage of not needing to be applied as frequently. The gel stays in place longer, whereas roach powder disperses over time and is swept or vacuumed up. The sticky gel is a bit more difficult to clean up, however, if you apply it directly to the floor. So we recommend this neat trick to avoid the mess: cut small squares of cardboard and apply the roach gel to those instead of applying the product directly to home surfaces. Then place in the cardboard squares in strategic, hidden locations around your home.
- Bengal roach killer: Another great product is Bengal roach spray. Some people claim that Bengal roach killer is the best there is and that nothing else compares to it. If you have a tough roach infestation, give Bengal a shot.
Professional exterminator (call in the big guns)
Of course, a professional exterminator may be called upon if needed or preferred. If you rent your home or live in an apartment, notify the landlord of the presence of cockroaches in your home. Request that he have an exterminator come to take care of the problem. Many apartments will provide this service free of charge. It is also a good idea to keep a cockroach as a specimen to show the exterminator. That way he will know exactly what species or roach you are dealing with.
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Shonte
I have got bitten on my neck by a nasty little roach. Now I’m breaking out everywhere. Itching is so intense it feels like I have rashes on my legs, back, arms, neck, chest. I got rid of the roaches in my apartment but they keep coming back from the neighbors downstairs. ????
Mrs Valerie O'Brien
I read your comment, please take your complaint to Landlord and Tenants Association. If these flats are rented, and if privately owned, it’s still a public health issue and is for the council to deal with. Either way, don’t put up with it any longer, because cockroaches thrive on anything and multiply prolifically!
C.B
I got bitten by a roach while sleeping, and unfortunately I scratched it and now is infected and swollen. What will I do to stop the swelling?
Monica
I thought a roach just bit me. And it did. There was 2 more around. But my husband never gets bit. Is it because men have different Ph hormones than women? We bombed this apartment before moving in.
Bob
You bombed your apartment block just for roaches? Is that legal? How did you convince other residents this would be a worthwhile endeavor? I also wonder about health and safety. Sounds like it would have been easier to rent or buy elsewhere than create an environmental catastrophe. But one’s home is home I guess.
B. D.
I recently (last night) got bit by something. I live in an apartment and it is practically crawling with German roaches. I have never been bit till now. My mom doesn’t believe it is a roach bite. It is slightly swelled and itches a lot. I’ve put itch cream on it and even hospital grade hand sanitizer. The bite is kind of round and a bit bumpy, and red too. Could a roach have bitten me in my sleep? What should i do? (it wont stop itching >.<)
HealthClover
Hi. No need to be too worried at this point. Just follow my advice in this article on how to treat roach bites. And read my tips for getting rid of German cockroaches to get the roach problem taken care of.
Jackie Couch
My daughter lives in a very old home that is wooden and they have other tenants living in the downstairs part of the home. She has had respiratory problems such as a sore throat, feeling like she could not breathe, and a cough. The house likely has cracks in the walls and ceilings and the wood also is likely to be infested. The home has been professionally sprayed and roach gel used. She has small red raised cockroach bites on her hands and back. If she gets a doctor’s medical documentation can she break the lease without having to pay her rent until August 2017. This obviously is affecting her health badly.
Anonymous
I am pretty sure she can if it has to do with health and they did not let her know from the beginning. The best advice would be to call a lawyer and ask them though.
Wayne
She can withhold rent until the issue is fixed. Must send certified letter of doing so and put money in escrow. Also possibly relocating at their expense if problem persists.
Wes
I am getting bit by something that leaves what looks like a blister. I know I have a few varieties of the roaches living here and they don’t seem to be afraid to be seen. I also get bit at night or sometimes during the day when I sleep. I have bombed this place once and am going to do it again but this time plan to use a lot more than should be used. Will ask a friend for help so I can get out of here without breathing the fumes. I hope I don’t blow this place up but when you are on a budget and can’t afford professionals you got to do what you got to do.
Cassandra
I sleep with the light on every day and I have been getting bit more frequently. I tried spraying, got the house bombed, and made sure that there isn’t a food source for them. They only bother the women in the house. What do I do?
HealthClover
If you have tried all the methods listed in the article, then you need a professional pest control expert to check your house. The roaches may be feeding on rotten wood inside your house, and that is almost impossible to get rid of.
Susie
Just got home from someones home and didnt realing feel anything during the night it was the next morning. My ankles, neck, jaw line and my whole lower back are covered in welts from roach bites. The shower seemed to make it worse. 24 hrs later more and more welts are showing up like its spreading.
HealthClover
Sorry to hear about your situation, Susie. What a nightmare.
Charlene B
Are you sure these are cockroach bites? From what I have read, roaches usually only bite a couple times unlike bed bugs who bite in clusters. Cockroaches also tend to bite the hand, feet, and around the mouth. In rare cases if the infestation is high and food supply is limited or you have food residue on your skin the roaches will bite in other places. I am sure I have them and I get about one bite every other week because the apartment building I live in is infested and the management only treats each infected room, not the whole building. What you are experiencing seems to be like what my nephew experienced when he was living in a place which had bed bugs.
Mandy
I moved into my rental home approximately a year ago. I did see a couple roaches during a walk through but we were in a time crunch and had to take the place. When I approached the property manager about the issue he just told me “hmm that’s strange, I just bombed the hell out of the place” so he was obviously fully aware of the problem. At this point it is a full blown infestation. I have 4 children 2 of which have documented breathing illnesses (sleep apnea & Asthma). Everyone in my home is sick non stop with upper respiratory illnesses and in the past few months since I’ve been fogging, keeping all open food in the fridge, putting out roach motels etc… We have begun getting bit at night. I couldn’t figure out what it was because they vary from what looks like mosquito bites to a large area with a thin scab that appears stunningly out of nowhere. One of my children is bitten so badly (many bites) that I’m afraid to take him to the doctor to document it because I’m worried they’ll call child services on me due to the infestation. Can you help me with any advice?
HealthClover
My advice would be to press your landlord to have your severe roach infestation handled by professional exterminators. If he refuses or even they can’t get rid of the roaches, move out. It’s not worth putting your families health at risk. Roach feces cause respiratory illness and allergies, and many roach bites indicate a huge infestation. At this point, a professional is needed to solve the problem. If that fails, you’ve got to protect your children and find a new place to live.
Anonymous
What if you can’t afford to move into another place? What if your stuck until you get your deposit back?
HealthClover
Try using the roach control products listed in the article and you’ll have to tough it out until you can move. I know it’s a tough situation when you’re getting roach bites and stuck there.
Robert
Try anything: friends, family, church, any agencies, even red cross. You will get help especially when your case is sincere! Don’t stay for a contract. Be the champion for you and your family!
Mrs Valerie O'Brien
You gave a bit of useless advice here, the woman has young children and cockroaches are a severe health risk. If she had contacted her landlord he would do absolutely nothing . It’s a PUBLIC HEALTH issue and should have been dealt with by a public health inspector. Landlords are only interested in profit they care nothing about tenants.
Greg Gullett
What does a cockroach bite look like?
Anonymous
Go to the doctor complaining that you think it is roach bites because landlord refuses to treat the problem. Get documentation for the courts, there are times you can pay the city your rent NOT the landlord until they FIX your issue.
Amber
I’m dealing with the same issue, only I’m buying my house so I can’t lean on a landlord. First I laid what they call diatomaceous earth all around the house. It’s safe for animals and children. You can buy that at pool places or maybe farming places (it’s what farmers use to spread on their fields to get rid of pests in the dirt). They HATED it! It also made me realize where a lot of nests are. Then I found a chemical spray at home depot that worked wonders! I sprayed all the baseboards, up the corners of the walls, along with all the floors and walls (I haven’t moved my stuff in yet so it was easy for me), making sure I got the cellar and around the pipes good. Make sure there is no food laying around. Even a little crumb will feed cockroaches for a month! The next thing I’m going to do is put traps of half baking soda half sugar around. The sugar will bait them in for a yummy meal. They’ll eat it and get a drink, and when they get back to their neat they explode. The other roaches will eat the dead ones causing them to explode. I haven’t tried this yet, but I heard one roach will kill a dozen! Sorry for your misfortune and I hope this helps you like it helped me. When I sprayed, I think I killed like 90% of the roaches. My house was completely infested. I walked in to dead roaches everywhere! Also make sure to spray inside the back of your fridge!
Kay
We moved into our home about 8 months ago and I have seen 3 roaches. The first one was after bug bombing the house and the next one a couple weeks later. And just tonight I saw a cockroach in the detached garage.
I have been getting a TON of bug bites on my legs for the last month or so that I thought were either mosquito or spider bites. So, are these bug bites from cockroaches? Did the cockroaches show up because my house is dirty? And how bad is my infestation?
HealthClover
It’s impossible for me to say what kind of bites you are getting, but if you are seeing a few roaches then there are sure to be many more that you can not see. My advice is to use the roach products talked about in the article, and you should start seeing dead roaches instead of live ones.
Jemima
Do cockroach bites cause diseases like leprosy?
HealthClover
No, that is a myth.
Kernisha
I have been bitten by a roach in my sleep. When I woke up I had a red pimple on the inside of my lip. Since then I put methylated spirit on it to clean it and and it continued to grow. That night I put garlic on it and it stung a bit. The next morning I work up and it was there so I squeezed it and a bit of water came out.
My question is if it’s possible for a roach to bite the inside of your mouth? And how long will it take to heal?
HealthClover
First, don’t put denatured alcohol in your mouth because it is toxic and not meant for ingestion. It is possible but rare to get a cockroach bite on the inside of your lip. Don’t squeeze it! Just let it heal on its own. It should only take a few days.
Laura
I have been getting bitten by something since moving into our new house about a month ago. I am currently seeing a dermatologist to get relief but even he is unsure of what is biting me.
The bites start as if a mosquito bite but then form a cluster of 3-5 small blister like bumps. I am getting them on my arms, fingers, and back. Last couple of days they have appeared on back of my thighs. I am currently the only one getting bit, and I share a bed with my husband and sometime my daughter.
There were German roaches in the house when we moved in, and we have tried everything from combat gel to fogging the house to no avail. If you could offer some insight to what is biting me and how to control the itch it would be a great relief to me.
HealthClover
It is strange that you are the only one in your family getting bitten. Many insect bites look similar so it is difficult to tell for sure if it is a roach bite. Dab some hydrocortisone on the bite to stop the itching.
Trish
My story is very similar to yours. I am the only one who has these bites, on my arms and legs. I first went to my pharmacist but he had no idea what they were so I went to my doctor and to my surprise he also had no idea.
However, we just moved into this apartment and I only get bitten at night while my husband sleeps peacefully! I have tried more products than I can count! Mine start out like tiny crescent shaped spots, then sometimes get bigger before healing. A few have become infected. Still working on the problem!
Samantha Mayhue
I am getting bit as well. It has to be roaches. I’ve actually woke up and seen them biting me, my arms look awful. The way I sleep, my arm is against the wall and apparently they crawl up the wall at night and bite only me, not my husband or my daughter. I keep my house super clean which is why I am getting bit because they have no food. My question is does anyone know what I can put on the bites for them to start to heal? The bites are scabbed over from where I itch in my sleep and summer is coming up and they look awful.
Laura
We just moved into our new home and it turns out the landlord caught on to seeing some roaches prior to us moving in, so on March 17th a professional spray was done inside and below the home. When we were finally ready with our beds on April 3rd, we noticed they were still there and requested another spray of the home be done. So on April 4th our home was sprayed inside again. Now we are seeing mostly baby roaches and mostly always in the evening. However they are still around and I’m of course concerned.
The extermination company said we need to wait 30 days before another spray. So in the meantime we wait and it is awful!! Any tips on how to kill more to help the process go quicker? We aren’t using over the counter tactics but as of now we are keeping everything clean and using bleach to disinfect all our counters and eating areas. We’ve also kept our garbage emptied at night.
HealthClover
You are likely still seeing baby roaches because the roach eggs that the adults left behind in hidden crevices are still hatching. Are you seeing dead baby roaches also? If so, then the extermination treatment is working and everything is okay.
The life cycle of the roach is being interrupted as long as they don’t reach adulthood and reproduce. So I would heed the advice of the exterminator and give it a little time. Of course, you may also use roach products from this article to supplement if you are still concerned, though.
Daph
I woke up last night because I felt something bite me and I saw a black cockroach. It bit my ring finger and it really bleeds and hurts. I just cleaned it with soap and put garlic in it.
Kanesha
I have a big bite on the bottom of my lip, and I know it’s probably from a roach because the night before I tried to kill one and instead flicked it, and it flew and hit my lip. Now lots of liquid and yellow stuff comes out when I squeeze it, and I don’t know how to get it to heal.
HealthClover
Keep the bite wound clean and dry, and don’t squeeze it. Let the puss drain from it naturally and dry it off with a clean tissue. If you touch or pinch it you might get it infected, which will make the wound take longer to heal, and could also cause a small scar. Once the open skin is healed over in a few days, you can apply calamine or 1% hydro-cortisone to reduce itching if needed.
Kira
I have the same case as him. But after a day, my teeth started hurting and have lots of mouth ulcers, even though I brush my teeth three times a day. It hurts to open my mouth. My mom said that it’s probably because of the heat. I can’t speak or eat properly, causing me to eat so slow. What should I do?
HealthClover
Kira, it sounds pretty serious and I think you should see a doctor.
Biplav
I have been bitten by a cockroach and its been more than three months but the wound has not healed. It is still swollen and dark-reddish or purplish in color. Sometimes puss comes out of it as well. What should i do?
HealthClover
The bite has become infected with bacteria. If you have healthcare, please see your doctor. You should clean the wound thoroughly twice a day and apply iodine to disinfect. Keep it clean and covered with gauze to help it heal.
Carla
My leg is aching and it’s swollen. I don’t know if it is a cockroach bite. It’s been six days and I feel itchy all around my legs.
HealthClover
If a good portion of your leg is swollen and aching then you have serious infection from the bite. You should see you doctor to see if antibiotics are needed. In the meantime, keep the bite clean with antibacterial soap and/or iodine so that the wound can heal properly.
Kim
Apparently not all roaches follow the same pattern! I got bit tonight in a very brightly lit bathroom in the shower! Never had a roach problem in our home, but when I felt a burning sting on my ankle I automatically shook my ankle and sent a smaller-sized roach flying. It wasn’t dark, quiet or any food residue around. Now my ankle is throbbing and stinging.
HealthClover
Wow, that is a creepy roach bite story, Kim! I’m guessing you must not have seen the roach in the tub and stepped right on it or next to it. Try putting some hydro-cortisone cream on the bite to reduce swelling and itchiness, and try not to scratch it.
Courtney
Can i put something on my body like a repellent so roaches don’t bite me when I’m sleeping?
HealthClover
You can make all-natural insect repellent sprays for your skin using various oils like tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, etc. But in my opinion, using a roach repellent on your body is not a viable solution (in the long run) to prevent roach bites.
Ashley
I am freaking out! We have lived in our house for around two months and after a couple days started seeing roaches. Our landlord has worked with us and had our home professionally sprayed twice now and we still see them. I just found one in my bed and am ready to move out. Why won’t they go away? What should I do?
HealthClover
If you have followed the steps in this article and had your home treated multiple times by pest professionals, it would be very unusual to still have a roach infestation after 2 months. Keep pressing your landlord to either solve the problem or let you out of your lease.
Jacqueline
Can I stick a needle in a roach bite to drain it?
HealthClover
Not recommended because once the skin is broken there is risk of infection and scarring. It’s best to let the bite heal on its own without disturbing it.
Christine
I think my 19 month old son was bitten by a cockroach just below the eye when he woke up yesterday. It was just a red spot but it swelled after a few hours. He is not crying or itching, but could it be a cockroach that bit him?
HealthClover
Cockroach bites look very similar to other insect bites and can be difficult to differentiate. If you have a bad roach problem in your home, it is quite possible that you baby got bitten by a roach, especially if the bite is on the hand or face. Make sure you clean food off your baby’s skin before you put him to bed. Also, it is very important to get rid of the roach infestation by using a roach killer discussed in this article.
Tiffany
What do I do if I treat my roach problem but my downstairs neighbors won’t do anything to take care of the roaches down in their apartment?
HealthClover
Tiffany, talk to the landlord or the leasing office and make sure they are aware of the roach problem and that you are getting bitten by roaches. Ask them to spray the entire apartment complex with roach killer. They can get access to every apartment and your neighbors will probably be less likely to say no to them. The fact that you can’t control the cleanliness of your neighbor’s home poses a big problem for controlling a roach infestation.
Jerome Davis
If you unknowingly eat food that has been infested with roaches or their eggs, is it possible that their germs, eggs, etc. can grow inside of you and make you feel as if they are inside of your skin crawling around?
HealthClover
Jerome, acids in the digestive system would kill cockroach eggs or larva and thus prevent them from growing inside of your body. It is possible to get a bacterial infection, though. Your symptoms are quite serious, so please seek the advice of a medical doctor as soon as possible.
Mark Naidoo
It’s scary.
Ernest Arku
I have been bitten by cockroaches for the past one year. I have been suffering from body itch and I can feel something walking on my body. Please help me.
John Kimble
That honestly sounds pretty serious, Ernest. Have your doctor take a look as soon as possible. Explain to him what you are feeling.