Birds are cute, feathery creatures, but if they start roosting in your property, they become a problem. Not only can they be a nuisance, especially if they are pigeons, but they also carry health risks that you should be aware of.

It cannot be denied that the health risks associated with bird as well as bat droppings are oftentimes blown out of proportion. Nevertheless, these health hazards are real. The larger the number of birds and bats roosting in your property, the higher the risks. Below are the most common health risks associated with their droppings.

Histoplasmosis

Caused by a certain type of fungus called Histoplasma Capsulatum, histoplasmosis can affect not only humans but animals as well. The fungi come from infected pigeon and bat droppings and are transmitted to us when their spores become airborne. When these airborne fungi spores are inhaled, the patient develops high fever as well as body malaise and flu-like symptoms. When blood levels are checked, the lab results will show some abnormalities. If left untreated or if the patient has weak, compromised, and immature immune system, pneumonia and other complications can develop. One such complication is ocular histoplasmosis syndrome which affects the eyes, causing blindness. Histoplasmosis can also cause death.

Ticks and Mites

Bats and birds are also known carriers of ticks and mites. Although these do not cause severe diseases that can infect us, they are, nevertheless, a nuisance. They bite, and their bites cause itchy, raised spot. However, these typically go away after a few hours. If symptoms persist, you can always apply a topical ointment to soothe the irritation.

Ticks and mites carried by bats and birds become a big problem when these parasite-carrying pests start invading your home and the bites become more frequent. If you have a weak immune system, not only will you suffer from these irritating bites, but it could also trigger an allergic reaction. Infection of the bitten areas could also occur if you are always scratching them to relive the itchiness, causing superficial open wounds.

Cryptococcosis

Another type of fungus that can also cause an infection is the Cryptococcosis Neoformans. These also come from pigeon droppings, so the more pigeons roosting in your roof or attic, the higher the risk for this type of fungal infection.

The symptoms of Cryptococcosis infection are usually mild with flu-like symptoms. However, for people with weak and compromised immune system, the symptoms could be pretty devastating. In addition to fever, body malaise, cough, and headache with nausea and vomiting, the patient also develops vision changes. He may experience some blurry and double vision with hypersensitivity to light. Blood may even be present in the sputum when the patient coughs. This is because the fungus usually attacks the lungs.

If left untreated, meningitis may develop with seizures and some changes in the mental status of the patient. He becomes more lethargic and more confused as the infection progresses. If his condition turns for the worse, coma could develop.

These are but some of the health risks associated with bird and bat droppings. If your home is infested by pigeons and bats, then you have to get rid of them quickly so as to avoid these problems.

Image source by http://en.wikipedia.org/
About the author: Jennifer Dabney is writer for a pest control company, and you can contact us here. The author writes about health risks and hazards associated with pests.