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What Are Health Impacts Of Living In A House Breathing In Mouse Droppings?
Question: Good Afternoon,
Is there any chance of receiving advice complimentary? I am a 71 year old lady who is renting in a government low income building. I have mouse droppings EVERYWHERE!!!! A few days ago I found them in my cupboards and drawers next to the fridge. The apartment is only 430 square feet and the droppings are on the small balcony floor too as of the last few days. There is no food source for the mice. Every day I have been vacuuming them up where I can reach as well as using a kleenex at times. I feel O.K. but a friend, a lady nearly 80 years of age, has been helping me with getting rid of as many droppings as we can every day. Yesterday she began to feel faint while in a store and needed to sit down. Today she feels as though she has the flu! I am with her trying to oversee her well being or lack there of. She gets up to eat a little and then needs to lie down again. This is very unlike her unless she is quite ill. She has no respiratory symptoms as of now but she definitely feels flu like. We have both been exposed trying to keep on top of these droppings for over a week and she is letting me stay in her apartment until I can do something better about this dreadful problem. My only income is my OAS & CPP XXXXXXX Government pensions. With no exaggeration, I barely have money for any food. The resident manager of this building will not do anything other than to give me sticky traps that I must pick up and dispose of myself. I have not caught any mice as of yet! Currently I am MOST CONCERNED about the friend who has been helping me. Please, would you be so kind as to offer an opinion complimentary. Thank you in advance if you are able and willing to do this.
With sincere appreciation, XXXXXXX XXXX
YYYY@YYYY
Is there any chance of receiving advice complimentary? I am a 71 year old lady who is renting in a government low income building. I have mouse droppings EVERYWHERE!!!! A few days ago I found them in my cupboards and drawers next to the fridge. The apartment is only 430 square feet and the droppings are on the small balcony floor too as of the last few days. There is no food source for the mice. Every day I have been vacuuming them up where I can reach as well as using a kleenex at times. I feel O.K. but a friend, a lady nearly 80 years of age, has been helping me with getting rid of as many droppings as we can every day. Yesterday she began to feel faint while in a store and needed to sit down. Today she feels as though she has the flu! I am with her trying to oversee her well being or lack there of. She gets up to eat a little and then needs to lie down again. This is very unlike her unless she is quite ill. She has no respiratory symptoms as of now but she definitely feels flu like. We have both been exposed trying to keep on top of these droppings for over a week and she is letting me stay in her apartment until I can do something better about this dreadful problem. My only income is my OAS & CPP XXXXXXX Government pensions. With no exaggeration, I barely have money for any food. The resident manager of this building will not do anything other than to give me sticky traps that I must pick up and dispose of myself. I have not caught any mice as of yet! Currently I am MOST CONCERNED about the friend who has been helping me. Please, would you be so kind as to offer an opinion complimentary. Thank you in advance if you are able and willing to do this.
With sincere appreciation, XXXXXXX XXXX
YYYY@YYYY
Brief Answer:
Appears to be routine viral infection or dehydration
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX XXXX,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. Mouse droppings are known to lead onto few diseases like Hanta virus infection or maybe salmonellosis.
2. At present, she is possibly having a viral infection or possibly dehydration.
3. If she has any severe vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain or if she develops severe breathlessness or has multiple red spots (petechiae) over body or blood in urine, then you would need to go to ER.
4. At present, check her temperature. If its high, paracetamol should help.
5. Give her good nutrition (protein rich diet) and maintain adequate hydration (minimum of 4-6 liters of water per day, and if she having fever, maybe more.)
5. It looks to be only weakness and rest is essential. However, watch out for any new symptoms.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Appears to be routine viral infection or dehydration
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX XXXX,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. Mouse droppings are known to lead onto few diseases like Hanta virus infection or maybe salmonellosis.
2. At present, she is possibly having a viral infection or possibly dehydration.
3. If she has any severe vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain or if she develops severe breathlessness or has multiple red spots (petechiae) over body or blood in urine, then you would need to go to ER.
4. At present, check her temperature. If its high, paracetamol should help.
5. Give her good nutrition (protein rich diet) and maintain adequate hydration (minimum of 4-6 liters of water per day, and if she having fever, maybe more.)
5. It looks to be only weakness and rest is essential. However, watch out for any new symptoms.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank You Dr. for responding.
I didn't think I had received a response since it arrived in my Junk box in error. I only now saw that. My 79 ear old friend continues to feel poorly. Her stomach is unsettled but no vomiting or diarrhea as of yet. Since we have both been Vacuuming and cleaning areas where mice have left many droppings over the past week, I feel that a mouse caused illness must be considered. However, I don't know if the mice in XXXXXXX BC Canada are diseased or not. Would you please tell me if you think her flu symptoms are MOST LIKELY caused by the mouse droppings. How serious could this be and should she try to see a Dr. here as soon as possible. She is not an easy lady to get to a Dr. She is not dehydrated and probably is not running a fever tonight but she feels very unwell, as with a flu.
Thank you very much for responding and I look forward to another response.
Sincerely~XXXX ( YYYY@YYYY )
I didn't think I had received a response since it arrived in my Junk box in error. I only now saw that. My 79 ear old friend continues to feel poorly. Her stomach is unsettled but no vomiting or diarrhea as of yet. Since we have both been Vacuuming and cleaning areas where mice have left many droppings over the past week, I feel that a mouse caused illness must be considered. However, I don't know if the mice in XXXXXXX BC Canada are diseased or not. Would you please tell me if you think her flu symptoms are MOST LIKELY caused by the mouse droppings. How serious could this be and should she try to see a Dr. here as soon as possible. She is not an easy lady to get to a Dr. She is not dehydrated and probably is not running a fever tonight but she feels very unwell, as with a flu.
Thank you very much for responding and I look forward to another response.
Sincerely~XXXX ( YYYY@YYYY )
Brief Answer:
Flu symptoms due to tiredness and increased activity
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking again.
I strongly doubt it could be any illness as she is not running a temperature or has any gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms.
Even if the mouse droppings are infected, ingestion or inhalation is necessary. As it was not near any food products, and vacuuming reduces the chance of aerosol spread, so the possibility is low. Need new symptoms to think of any further infection possibility.
Maybe due to work done (like vacuuming, cleaning, more than normal), she might be very weak, tired and dehydrated.
Rest should help. As there is no specific symptom, going to a doctor at this time would not be of any help. Give her rest, improved nutritious diet and good hydration. Watch for any symptoms.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Flu symptoms due to tiredness and increased activity
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking again.
I strongly doubt it could be any illness as she is not running a temperature or has any gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms.
Even if the mouse droppings are infected, ingestion or inhalation is necessary. As it was not near any food products, and vacuuming reduces the chance of aerosol spread, so the possibility is low. Need new symptoms to think of any further infection possibility.
Maybe due to work done (like vacuuming, cleaning, more than normal), she might be very weak, tired and dehydrated.
Rest should help. As there is no specific symptom, going to a doctor at this time would not be of any help. Give her rest, improved nutritious diet and good hydration. Watch for any symptoms.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
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