Spotting pests scurrying about your home can be a stressful and upsetting experience. Whether it’s cockroaches in your kitchen or a mouse in your basement, the presence of pests is something that homeowners need to deal with quickly to avoid further infestation and home damage.
However, did you know that common household pests don’t just pose a risk to your property? They might also endanger the health of you and your family. Though we often give pests a bad reputation simply because they’re a nuisance, the truth is that many carry specific health concerns that can be extremely dangerous. We’ll look at how some of the most common household pests could impact your health.
1. Cockroaches
Cockroaches are a pest that’re sure to make your skin crawl. Often found in bathrooms, kitchens, or places that have rich water sources, these pests carry a host of bacteria and viruses in their bodies.
They’re also known for prompting respiratory problems in children. One in five children have reported severe cockroach allergies. Cockroach allergens not only trigger allergies and asthma — scientists are also exploring the possibility that exposure to cockroaches might encourage the development of asthma in younger children.
2. Mice and Rats
Rodents such as rats and mice are both responsible for transmitting pathogens and spreading bacteria by constantly dropping urine and feces. Any surface a rodent touches instantly becomes contaminated with bacteria that has been linked to rat-bite fever, leptospirosis, and even plague.
Mice are also known transmitters of a disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. This is a highly dangerous respiratory condition that causes flu-like symptoms. It’s crucial to constantly be on the lookout for signs of rodents in your home.
3. Flies
Flies might not seem like a big threat to your home, but they can be extremely dangerous if an infestation is allowed to thrive. Most house flies carry a range of diseases on their bodies, and transfer bacteria and droppings onto surfaces in seconds.
House flies can carry typhoid, dysentery, cholera, salmonella, and tuberculosis, and some even transmit parasitic worm eggs into food, leading to long-term illnesses and gastrointestinal problems.
4. Bed Bugs
Bed bugs don’t necessarily carry disease, but they can cause damage to your health in a range of other ways. An allergic reaction to a bedbug bite could lead to ongoing discomfort. What’s more, scratching a bite could lead to germs getting into wounds, prompting infection.
Additionally, even if bedbugs are nothing more than an irritant to physical health, the impact that they can have on mental health is far more worrying. Many studies have found that people who suffer with bed bug infestations struggle from insomnia, depression, stress, and social isolation issues.
5. Fleas
Fleas are one of the most common household pests that homeowners have to deal with. These small biting insects often enter your home thanks to your pet, but they can easily jump from an animal onto your skin. Flea bites can cause allergic responses, infections, and itching. For some people, bites can even lead to severe anaphylaxis.
Because of the range of bacteria that fleas carry, they can spread diseases like cat-scratch fever, typhus, and plague. Fleas that have bitten infected rodents can even transmit plague to humans.
6. Ants
Though small and often less terrifying than cockroaches, ants can still represent a danger to your health. These insects often flock together, and some can cause painful bites and contaminate food with disease-causing bacteria.
Ant bites from specific species aren’t only painful, but can cause inflammation and rashes, too. Additionally, ants can also carry harmful microbes, as some eat decomposing animals and plants. When an ant moves from a feeding area into your home, they’re carrying dangerous substances with them. For instance, the Pharaoh ant is a known carrier of salmonella.
7. Spiders
Finally, while many spider infestations aren’t dangerous, there are some that can cause serious problems to humans. Spider bites can cause swelling, inflammation, and allergic reactions in some people, not to mention on-going discomfort.
What’s more, if you’re unlucky enough to face an infestation of more dangerous critters like black widows or brown recluse spiders, then these bites can be incredibly toxic. It’s important to seek help from a spider extermination expert as quickly as possible when you notice an infestation (and medical attention, of course, if you are unlucky enough to be bitten by one of these poisonous pests).
Managing Pests in the Home
Pests in the home can be a frustrating experience for anyone. Not only do they cause damage to your property, but they could have a negative impact on your health, too. The best way to reduce the damage a pest can do is to have a professional from Adios Pest Control come and evaluate your problem as quickly as possible.
Our experts will diagnose your infestation and suggest appropriate courses of action to remove the pests from your home for good!