The Top Disease-Carrying Indoor Pests to Worry About

Here are four top disease-carrying indoor pests you need to be on the lookout for.

1. Fleas

Fleas may not live on humans, but they do bite humans, and in doing so, they can spread a number of diseases. Tularemia is a serious bacterial infection that causes fever, chills, gastrointestinal distress, and weakness. It can be deadly without medical treatment and antibiotics. Humans can contract tularemia when a flea carrying the bacteria bites them.

Fleas are also famously known to spread Bubonic plague. Contrary to popular belief, this disease, which caused the Black Death in the 14th century, has not been eradicated. Several cases are reported each year in the U.S. Bubonic plague is now treatable with antibiotics, but is still really unpleasant, and causes extreme weakness, blood loss, gangrene, diarrhea, and shock.

2. Cockroaches

Cockroaches can cause allergies or trigger asthma, so having them in your home may lead to symptoms like sneezing and itching. However, this may be the least of your worries during a cockroach infestation. The bugs also carry an array of bacteria on their bodies, and since they get into everything, they often introduce these bacteria to your food and eating surfaces without you realizing it.

Bacteria found on cockroaches include those that cause Typhoid, cholera, and dysentery. More commonly, they carry salmonella and campylobacter bacteria, which cause food poisoning symptoms like fever and diarrhea.

During a cockroach infestation, you can decrease your risk of illness by keeping food well sealed and washing your hands and surfaces thoroughly before eating. Ultimately, however, exterminating the cockroaches is the best way to stay healthy.

3. Rodents

Nobody likes finding mice or rats in their home. These rodents can do endless damage to your walls, insulation material, and flooring. However, the damage they do to your health can be even worse.

One disease sometimes spread by rodents is called Hantavirus. Humans may contract the virus after coming into contact with the rodents' urine, droppings, or saliva. Simply inhaling viral particles after a rodent nest is stirred up can result in an infection. Hantavirus causes respiratory distress, fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal disease, and the disease has no specific cure.

Rodents also spread Lymphocytic choriomeningitis, a viral infection that causes neurological disease and symptoms like paralysis, confusion, and sensory disturbances. Of course, if the rodents bring fleas into your home, as is common, then you'll also be at risk for the flea-borne infections discussed above.

4. House Flies

Most people pay little attention to a few house flies, especially in the heat of the summer when these pests are so common. However, house flies are more dangerous than you might think. They've been known to carry cholera, dysentery, tuberculosis, salmonella, and even the bacteria that cause conjunctivitis.

House flies are attracted to rotting matter, and when they land on that rotting matter, they pick up any number of dangerous bacteria. They can then introduce those bacteria to your food or surfaces. House flies tend to regurgitate a small amount of their stomach contents whenever they land on and feed on something, so if they recently ate something contaminated, they'll spread that contamination.

Don't ignore a few house flies. Usually, if you store your food in airtight containers, empty the trash regularly, keep your house clean, and exclude flies by shutting your doors and windows, you can nip the problem in the bud without having to call an exterminator.

The pests above are more than a nuisance; they could make you sick. If you have been dealing with rodents, fleas, cockroaches, or stubborn house flies, contact American Pest Professionals. We'll get rid of the pests and restore your home to the safe haven that it should be.