Is it Dangerous to Have Pests in Your Home?

The fear of pests such as cockroaches, rodents, and spiders is a common thing. Entomophobia is a fear of insects in general and of course each type of pest has a specific phobia related to it. You could even say that this type of fear is part of pop culture. There are a number of cartoons and television shows with funny scenes depicting an adult screaming and jumping onto an elevated surface in response to seeing a mouse. But is this fear based on the fact that pests are dangerous? Or is it an irrational fear that millions of people share? The reality is that there are some types of pests that are dangerous to have in your home.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are vile little pests that can make your skin crawl. Most people can agree that cockroaches do not belong in the house, but are they dangerous? Cockroaches can, in fact, be dangerous. They pose a threat to humans through the spread of disease. They can contaminate your food supply and spread bacteria such as salmonella and streptococcus, both of which can cause real problems for humans.

Rodents

The dangers that rodents pose to humans are similar to those of cockroaches. They can spread disease to humans through their urine, droppings, and through contaminating food. The CDC has a list of eleven diseases directly transmitted to humans by rodents but there are upwards of 35 diseases worldwide linked to these pests.

Spiders

Spiders may be the most feared of all the pests mentioned here but the reality is that they are less likely to cause you problems than cockroaches or rodents. This is because the species of spiders typically found in homes are harmless to humans. In fact, they may even be helpful by eating other types of pests like mosquitos, flies, and moths. There are a few types of spiders that do pose a threat to humans. Two of the most notable are the black widow and the brown recluse. These types of spiders are sometimes found in homes but not typically. Your best defense is to learn how to recognize these dangerous spiders so you can identify whether or not you have a safety issue.

The fact that these common pests have the potential to be dangerous makes prevention and quick eradication very important. The health and wellbeing of your family is too important to leave up to chance. Be proactive in your efforts to keep dangerous pests out of your house. If you need ideas on the types of proactive steps you can take to prevent pests, head on over the San Joaquin Pest Control blog. You will find a wealth of information on all things pest-related.