Rats are one of the filthiest and disgusting rodents that humans come into contact with. In most inner-city areas, rats can become a common problem in homes and be very difficult to get rid of depending on the severity of the infestation. Rats, like other rodents, are in constant search of food and shelter, making your home the perfect safe haven for them and their family. Rats have the ability to fit through the smallest of crawl spaces, making any hole a potential pathway straight into the warmth of your home. While rats can cause a great deal of damage to your home, chewing through electrical wiring, drywall and insulation, the health risks they pose to you and your family should be taken most seriously.
Human Diseases Caused by Rats & Rodents
Rats carry a great deal of disease that is directly transmitted to humans upon contact. Leptospirosis is a bacterium that many rats carry without showing any type of sign of infection. Humans can become infected with this harmful disease when they come into contact with the rat’s urine or feces. The symptoms that occur in humans that have been infected with Leptospirosis disease include headache, fever, vomiting, rash and muscle aches. While some people can become infected and show no signs at all, this disease can be fatal to others who are infected.
Diseases Caused by Rat Droppings & Urine
Wild rats also carry another type of disease that can be spread to humans through the contact of rat feces and urine just like Leptospirosis. This other harmful disease is called Salmonellosis. Salmonellosis causes gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever and sweats. If a healthy adult is infected with this disease, they most likely will get over it without having any long term problems, however, in more severe cases, the disease can enter into the bloodstream and spread to the entire body. This will result in major and long term damage to the person infected.
Rat Bite Fever
Another common sickness that rats can bring into your home is called rat-bite fever. Just like the name informs, rat-bite fever is transmitted to humans who have been bitten by a rat. Scratches and contact with rat urine and feces can also expose a person to rat-bite fever. Rat-bite fever symptoms include vomiting, joint and muscle pain, rash and fever. Any of these symptoms should be taken seriously and immediate medical attention should be taken.
Professional Rat & Rodent Control in Austin, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Leander & Cedar Park TX
If you are experiencing a rat presence in or around your home, contact A-Tex Pest Management today. Our technicians will remove the rats from your home and make it a safer place to live for you and your family.