Pests can cause significant damage to your house. They can gnaw on your furniture, chew through electrical wires, and infest wood. On top of this, they can also pose a serious health threat. Common household pests include rodents, stinging insects, roaches, ants, and fleas. While you will never want to share your space with these unwanted guests, this may be happening without you knowing it. Read on to know why pests can pose a threat to health:
Rodents
Mice and rats can find their way through small gaps in your house. Mice, in particular, can squeeze through even a very small opening. They leave droppings in areas like floor cracks, along the back wall, or under baseboards. Rat and mouse hair, urine, feces, and saliva can contaminate food and food prep areas. Also, they bring ticks, fleas, and lice into your home. These rodents carry diseases such as Hantavirus, Tularemia, Leptospirosis, and Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis.
Roaches
Cockroaches are in constant search of water and food. If you see roaches in your house, this does not automatically mean it is dirty. Roaches could have entered your home through crevices and cracks, as well as window and door openings. Sometimes, roaches can hitch a ride on luggage or bags. To reduce their presence, seal up all gaps, get rid of food and grease from the kitchen floor and surfaces, and repair plumbing leaks. Roach allergies can lead to serious symptoms such as coughing, rashes, wheezing, congestion, ear infection, and sinus infection.
Roaches travel around your house in dark areas at night. They can contaminate kitchen surfaces, which can result in health risks such as food poisoning.
Stinging Insects
Those who are allergic to insect stings are at risk of being brought to the ER. However, anybody can be impacted when swarmed and stung by many insects at once.
A colony can contain many wasps that aggressively defend their nest. Also, they scavenge for food at campsites, barbecues, and fairs. When provoked, yellowjackets can sting several times and chase their target for huge distances.
Your house is supposed to be your sanctuary, so you will not want to share it with rodents, roaches, and other pests that cause diseases. If you believe your home is infested with pests, contact a pest control company as soon as possible. Addressing a pest issue early is always better than dealing with it after it has gone worse.
