5 Health Hazards of Having Pests in Your Home

Having pests inside your home does more than annoy you. They can have a significantly negative impact on your family’s health. Do not risk getting too sick to where you cannot go into work, and invest in routine pest services around your abode.

1. Respiratory Problems

If you already suffer from asthma or allergies, then pests will only exacerbate those issues. For example, the carcasses left behind by cockroaches when they shed their skin contains a protein that has a tendency to trigger allergic reactions.

2. Leptospirosis and Hantavirus

Some rodents carry leptospirosis and hantavirus. They spread these diseases through their droppings and urine. Leptospirosis can lead to brain swelling, liver failure and potentially even death. Hantavirus can create hemorrhagic fevers and respiratory complications. Not all rats will carry these, but you want to play it safe than sorry.

3. West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus is transmitted by mosquitoes. These pests tend to spend time around standing water. You may also be at risk if your home is close to a creek or pond. You will require professional pest control Tampa FL to get rid of them, especially if you have senior citizens or children in your household.

4. Salmonellosis

Pet rats tend not to carry salmonellosis, but if you have wild rats roaming about your property, then you have to worry about the bacterium being present. The symptoms of salmonellosis include:

  • Headaches
  • Constant chills
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Nausea

People are most likely to contract salmonellosis by eating food contaminated with the bacterium. People can also contract it if exposed to bedding that came into contact with the disease.

5. Insomnia

If you discover bed bugs in your home, then you may need to deal with more than just red bumps on your skin. Bed bugs can keep people up at night with their constant biting. Sometimes even just the knowledge there are pests present can prevent people from getting a good night’s sleep. With insomnia, homeowners become susceptible to depression, irritability and anxiety. Over time, it can also lead to a weakening of the immune system.

It is much easier to prevent pests from entering your house in the first place than attempt to recover from one of these illnesses. Hire a professional pest control crew from Terminix any time of year to make your home pest-free once again. Do not deal with seeing cockroaches, rats or silverfish on a regular basis when you can banish them from the premises.