Household pests can be a real nuisance. They often chew on wires or drywall. This can cause major damage to your home. Plus, no one likes looking at a bunch of pests running around. But most pests have an even more nefarious side. There are a lot of health problems that can be caused by common house pests.
Common House Pests
Before talking about the health issues that can be caused by household pests, it is important to describe the pests you are most likely to see in your home.
- Ants
Ants are a common pest both inside and outside the home. They are most often attracted to food. Once the scouts find food for the colony, you are likely to see hundreds of ants tramping around your home. Ants are most common in the kitchen and dining room.
- Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are parasites that feed off the blood of mammals. They especially love human blood. Because of this, they are most often found in the room we spend a lot of time in, our bedroom. They do not limit themselves to beds, however. You can find bed bugs on furniture and upholstery in your bedroom as well.
- Cockroaches
Cockroaches are some of the most resilient pests in the world. They are found all over the United States. Cockroach colonies can be hard to find unless you notice the signs of an infestation. They are also attracted to rooms with food, and so can be found in kitchens, dining rooms, and basements.
- Mice
It doesn’t matter if you live in the city or country, you are likely to have mice in your home at some point. Mice are a lot more destructive than you might expect considering how cute they are. But they can contaminate food, cause damage, and spread health problems like the ones listed below.
Termites are some of the worst pests to have in your home. they are not aggressive towards humans, but they can cause you thousands of dollars. Termites eat wood, some species also build their nests in wood. Therefore, termite infestations can cause a lot of damage very quickly.
Health Problems Caused by Common Pests
In addition to the other damage caused by common household pests, they are responsible for health problems as well.
- Disease
Many pests, including cockroaches, mice, other rodents, and mosquitoes can spread disease. In fact, mosquitoes are some of the most dangerous pests on Earth. They can spread several very serious diseases, such as malaria and the Zika virus. Rodents can cause salmonella outbreaks. Cockroaches are responsible for spreading diseases like cholera, leprosy, and gastroenteritis.
- Allergies
Even if the pest is not known for spreading disease, it can still cause allergic reactions. Some people are severely allergic to bees, wasp, and hornet stings, for example. Cockroaches, bed bugs, and some ant species can also cause allergic or asthmatic reactions.
- Infections
Most pests spend a lot of their time crawling through places with a lot of germs and bacteria. Rodents and insects are especially known for this behavior. As these pests walk through your home, they spread those germs and bacteria around, which can cause infections and illness. Often, salmonella, Hantavirus, and E. coli bacteria are all transmitted this way.
Don’t let pests make you sick. If you notice the signs of a pest infestation, contact a professional exterminator right away. Doing so will ensure the pests cannot spread health problems to you or your family.
