Is There a Connection Between Pests and Asthma in Children?

The short answer to this question is yes. That means you have another reason to call the pest control company when you discover pests in your home. That’s alongside the fact that many pests carry diseases which can cause illness. 

Is There a Connection Between Pests and Asthma in Children?
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In fact, if you or your child are constantly suffering from runny noses or have allergy attacks and there is no apparent reason, there is a good chance you have pests in the vicinity. 

How Asthma Is Triggered By Pests

All creatures shed. Humans shed skin cells every day and these fall and are scrubbed off our bodies. Pests do the same. For example, a cockroach will shed its skin in order to grow. The old skin is flaky and will break up into the atmosphere. Once this happens, you will breathe in microscopic amounts of their skin every time you take a breath. 

If you, or your children, suffer from asthma then breathing in this skin can trigger an attack. This is because children with asthma have narrower airwaves in their lungs. The skin cells are an irritant, when you breathe them in they effectively tickle the lining of your lungs.  

This causes the pathways to narrow, making breathing more difficult, triggering an asthma attack. In some cases, starting an asthma attack can also lead to a panic attack.

It’s worth noting that dead skin cells can stay in the air for up to six months. 

Alongside the skin cells, pest droppings are often very small and will slowly dissolve into the atmosphere. Again, this creates spores that can’t be seen but can be breathed in. They will irritate your lungs and cause an asthma attack.

Pesticides

If you have a pest problem it’s common to call the exterminators and have the issue dealt with. However, if your children have asthma, it’s important you tell the pest control experts.

In many cases, they will use pesticides to effectively kill the pests. It works. Unfortunately, pesticides can also stay in the air for several months. It can help with extending the pest-free period. But, these chemicals are highly likely to irritate your lungs. That’s a particular issue if you have asthma or another breathing issue.

Bites

A bite from a pest, usually an insect, is often accompanied by an injection of anaesthesia. This is to ensure you don’t know you’re being bitten until afterwards. Unfortunately, this process causes an allergic reaction in many people and those allergens can pass through your body, potentially causing an asthma attack.

Pests To Be On The Alert For

While you don’t want any pests in your home, it’s worth noting that the following are the biggest contributors to asthma attacks:

• Cockroaches 

• Rodents – mice and rats

• Dust mites

The simplest way to keep these creatures away is to seal any entry points to your home. Alongside this, vacuum regularly and make sure that all food is stored in sealed containers and all surfaces are wiped down with a disinfectant spray.