Pests carry bacteria as they travel from one property to another. You might be familiar with the bites and bumps caused by mosquitoes and stinging insects, but can you be allergic to pests? And how do pests cause allergies? Some rodents and insects have chemicals and proteins in their skin, saliva and dander that lead to allergic reactions and asthmatic symptoms.

Your home or business might have a pest infestation if you, or someone in your building, has allergies that last longer than a few weeks. Explore how to deal with allergic reactions to pests to protect the people in your residential or commercial space.

Allergens Caused by Cockroaches

Since cockroaches can live in a wide range of temperatures, they tend to make a home in many United States buildings. The National Pest Management Association estimates 63% of homes in the country contain cockroach allergens. Urban areas or densely populated cities could have even more dander from these harmful pests.

Cockroaches cause allergic reactions and worsen asthma symptoms. You might have an infestation if you or someone in your building has the following:

• Postnasal drip
• Skin rashes
• Itchy and watery eyes
• Coughing
• Ear infections
• Congestion
• Wheezing
• General feelings of anxiety
• Chest tightness

These pests carry bacteria as they travel through your property. They cause allergies with the following types of waste that contain potent allergen proteins:

• Droppings
• Saliva
• Shed skin
• Deposited body parts

An estimated 17 to 41% of Americans have adverse reactions to cockroach allergens. Protect yourself and others from these symptoms by dealing with the pest infestation on your property.

Allergens Caused by Rodents

You can be allergic to pests such as mice and rats. Allergens from these rodents are present in many American homes. They largely affect adults and children in inner-city housing developments and heavily populated areas.

Mice and rats can trigger unpleasant allergy symptoms such as:

• Nausea
• Stuffy nose
• Itchy skin
• Eczema
• Sneezing
• Congestion
• Itchy nose
• Itchy throat
• Rashes
• Hives
• Asthma attacks

How do these pests cause allergies? They do so from the pheromones and bacteria in their:

• Droppings
• Urine
• Saliva
• Skin

You’ll know if you have rodents in your home or business if you find their droppings near your food supply or hear scurrying in the walls. Keep your property safe by dealing with a mouse or rat infestation.

Allergens Caused by Dust Mites

Dust mites are invisible to the naked eye, but their adverse health effects are evident in 20 million American residents and customers. You probably have thousands of dust mites in the furniture, floors and windowsills around your home or business.

These pests can cause the following allergic reactions and illnesses:

• Persistent coughing
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Runny nose
• Congestion
• Sneezing
• Asthma attacks

These pests spread allergens through their waste as it mixes with cockroach dust and mold. Allergens are also present in shed body parts.

Dust mites enjoy rooms that are 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Since they feed on dead skin cells, they enjoy places where many people meet. You’ll want to keep your property clean to ward off dust mites and keep everyone inside safe and healthy.

Allergens Caused by Fruit Flies

Flies reach full maturity in the spring when they search homes and businesses for food. Since flies can travel to various places in a short amount of time, they can carry diseases from far-off locations to your property.

As a result, they cause the following allergic or asthmatic symptoms in adults and children:

• Small red bumps on the skin
• Diarrhea
• Respiratory symptoms

The small red bumps form from the diseases that fruit flies carry. These pests travel to different places, searching for food and taking bacteria from rotted fruits or spoiled food with them. Due to their ability to fly far distances, you can have any bacteria in your property if you have a fruit fly infestation.

You’ll want to remedy your skin irritation with over-the-counter ointments if you notice several red spots from a fruit fly allergy. A doctor’s visit is only necessary if you have severe symptoms from the bacteria.

Allergens Caused by Stink Bugs

Stink bugs produce an odorous chemical when crushed. It might be inevitable to come into contact with these pests if you have an infestation.

The chemical they make can cause unpleasant symptoms in humans, especially:

• Stuffy nose
• Runny nose
• Pink eye
• Dermatitis

You can scrub the odorous chemical off your skin if you come into contact with a crushed stink bug. Deal with the stink bugs on your property to keep your loved ones and customers safe.

Preventing Pests in the Spring

Getting rid of the pests in your space reduces the risk of asthma and allergies among residents or customers. The safest way to prevent rodents and insects in the spring is by keeping your property clean.

Pests look for food, standing water and debris as they travel. Removing this clutter can help you prevent rodent and insect infestations. Check your residential or commercial property for signs of pest activity and call a professional for assistance.

Follow these tips to protect your home or business against harmful pests:

• Seal your food in airtight containers and store it in secure cabinets.
• Clean crumbs and spills off your kitchen counters and floors every day.
• Wash your dishes instead of leaving them in the sink overnight.
• Throw out the trash regularly in sealed receptacles.
• Clean up spills and remove cups of standing water around your property.
• Inspect the whole building for cracks and holes and fill them as necessary.
• Control the ventilation and humidity levels in your basement or crawl space.
• Inspect any visible pipes for leaks, drips or standing water that could attract pests.
• Use mattress covers and pillowcases to control the dead skin cells on your bed.
• Remove the clutter throughout your property to reduce the number of hiding spots for pests.
• Regularly vacuum your furniture and flooring to remove dust from your indoor space.
• Wash your sheets on the hottest setting to eliminate dust mites that can’t survive in hot temperatures.
• Contact a pest control specialist to deal with any pest activity you find throughout your property.

Schedule an Inspection This Spring

Pests can cause allergies for the people on your property if you don’t deal with them as soon as possible. Get a spring inspection from our pest control experts at Pestech to see what rodents or insects could be an issue for your home or business.

We specialize in year-round pest control in New York to help you manage the rodents or insects that could be harming your household residents or commercial customers. Contact us online or call us for more information about preventing allergic reactions to pest droppings.