Front Yard LandscapingPest Impact

Home is a wonderful place. Not only is it comfortable for your family, it’s also an ideal place for pests. Pests need food, moisture, and shelter from the elements and predators. Your home provides all of these without the threat of any natural predators. This is why pests desire to enter and live in your home year-round. And just because you don’t see any pests, it doesn’t mean they aren’t there.

Settling In…

Did you know that pests can get into your home through cracks as small as 1/64 inch? These cracks include access holes where pipes and wires enter your home and around window sills. Once inside, they can have a significant impact on you and your family such as:

  • Physical damage to your home’s structure and belongings
  • Contamination of surfaces
  • Infestation of food products
  • Adverse effects to your health by spreading germs and irritating allergies
  • Disruption to your comfort and sense of well-being

Child with allergiesAllergies

Pests can cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals. Cockroach feces, saliva, and insect parts degrade into a dust and can become one of the most common indoor allergy triggers for sensitive adults and children alike. These cockroach allergens may produce an allergic response in sensitive individuals.  The saliva, feces and shedding body parts of cockroaches can trigger both asthma and allergies. These allergens act like dust mites, aggravating symptoms when they are kicked up in the air.

The National Pest Management Association reports that 63 percent of homes in the United States contain cockroach allergens. In urban areas, that number rises to between 78 and 98 percent of homes.

  • Coughing
  • Nasal congestion
  • Skin rash
  • Wheezing
  • Ear infection
  • Sinus infection

In many cases with cockroach allergens, these symptoms become chronic, lasting beyond typical seasonal allergies.

Asthma

Asthma is the leading chronic illness among children and adults. Exposure to rodents can trigger asthma attacks. Studies have shown a linkage between rodent allergy and asthma symptoms.  A major study on asthma among children found that nearly 20 percent of asthmatic children had been sensitized to rats and 15 percent were sensitized to mice. This is important to note, as research has found mouse allergen in 82 percent of U.S. homes.

Roaches can trigger asthma attacks in those with asthmatic sensitivities with an increased incidence among children. Infants who have prolonged exposure to roach residue are more likely to remain sensitive to cockroaches for the rest of their lives. Children and adults who already suffer from asthma can see their medical condition worsen with repeated exposure.

Disease

Pests can carry pathogens and spread numerous diseases in and around your home. They can endanger your family’s health and cause illnesses, such as salmonella and dysentery causing headaches, fever, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Pests can also contaminate food sources within the home causing food borne illnesses. It is vital that all open food containers, boxes, etc. are tightly sealed and properly stored to avoid access and contamination.