Health Hazards of Pests in Your Home
No matter the kind, pests are an annoyance that can leave your home feeling uncomfortable and dirty, and most people rarely like to deal with them. But the presence of insects and rodents in your home can pose numerous health hazards to you, your family, and your pets, which is why pest control is a necessity–especially if you’ve run into a severe infestation.
Keep your family safe by knowing what bad tidings just a few of these nuisance creatures can bring.
Asthma and Respiratory Issues
If you or someone you know suffers from asthma, you’ll know that it’s no laughing matter; but believe it or not, asthma is probably the least severe health problem on our list today.
For allergy and asthma sufferers, in addition to being just plain nasty, insect and rodent infestations can be life-threatening. Specifically, roach droppings and carcasses release a protein that has been proven to cause allergic reactions in individuals susceptible to it, and can lead to severe asthma attacks.
You may not be concerned if no one in your family suffers from any respiratory issues currently, but you should also be aware that long-term exposure to roaches and their droppings can cause harm to your lungs, and as the infestation expands and persists, the chances of harm increase exponentially.
West Nile Virus
Mosquitoes are notorious for their capability to spread disease; one of which includes the West Nile Virus, a very serious health concern that has become more prevalent as the years have gone by, especially in tropical climates. This disease causes serious, life-threatening symptoms in as many as every 1 in 150 people affected, so don’t take the presence of mosquitoes lightly.
Severe cases of West Nile Virus can develop symptoms that affect the nervous system like encephalitis and meningitis, in addition to tremors, muscle weakness, stupor, vision loss, paralysis, and even coma. And, if you think you may be safe because you aren’t a child or elderly, think again–serious cases of this disease can affect anyone, regardless of your health.
Even when you are lucky enough to not have a severe form of West Nile, 1 in 5 people develop feverish, flu-like illness when infected, and even if you manage to recover completely, the fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or even months.
Eliminate standing water in your yard and leaks around your home, which are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. However, if you have a water source nearby with poor flow like a pond or slow-running creek, you may need professional help to get rid of them and keep them away.
Leptospirosis and Hantavirus
Spread through the droppings, saliva, and urine of infected rodents, Hantaviruses can cause respiratory issues and hemorrhagic fever, while Leptospirosis can result in liver failure and brain swelling. Both of these serious diseases can easily result in death, and can also have a dormancy period of weeks or even months after exposure.
Make sure that rodents don’t have any access points to your home, and if you do notice rodents or the signs of them, call an exterminator immediately, as they reproduce quickly and their infestations can rapidly get out of hand.
Control is Key for Pest Health Hazards
There’s no better way to prevent pest-borne diseases than dealing with infestations of any kind of pest ASAP. Even if you aren’t sure you have an infestation to begin with, don’t wait to call pest control.
If there are any signs of any form of infestation, it’s better to have someone check and be certain. An exterminator like ours at Consolidated Pest Control can also stop problems before they start and recommend prevention methods that are tailored specifically to your home.
