When it comes to sewage damage, the job of a sewage damage restoration specialist is far more serious than simply removing waste and odors and restoring your home to its former state. In reality, these seasoned professionals are charged with an extremely vital task: Making sure you and your family remain safe from the potential health risks associated with sewage damage. There are many different health problems that could result from sewage damage, which is one of the biggest reasons why the sewage damage cleanup process should almost always be handled by a professional. Here are some of the ailments and diseases you could face if you don’t call on a sewage damage expert to handle your home’s cleanup:

• Hepatitis A, which is an acute liver infection that afflicts more than 10 million Americans each and every year.
• Salmonella, a bacterial infection that causes symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramping, vomiting and weakness. If left untreated, salmonella can even lead to more serious diseases, such as typhoid fever.
• Bacillary dysentery, which is a type of dysentery caused by interaction with harmful bacteria. Dysentery also causes diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and so forth, and can be extremely taxing on the body if immediate medical care is not sought.
• Intestinal infections. In addition to the aforementioned ailments, there are other types of intestinal infections that may be sustained from contact with raw sewage.
• Skin infections. When sewage comes in contact with exposed skin, a painful or itchy rash could be the result.
• Eye infections.
• Respiratory infections. This is of particular concern if the sewage problem is left untreated, as water damage can easily lead to mold growth, and mold releases spores that can be harmful or even fatal when inhaled by living organisms. Keep an eye out for “black mold,” a notoriously noxious strain, and never attempt to remove such mold on your own – a mold removal specialist must be contacted.

Any of these problems could escalate into even more serious afflictions, and in some cases could even prove to be fatal, especially if the liver, blood or kidneys are involved.

Whenever you’re dealing with sewage in your home, your best course of action is to contact a sewage damage cleanup company to do the job for you. Unless the problem is confined to a very limited space in your home and you know that the source of the sewage is relatively clean (i.e. a clogged toilet rather than a serious sewage backup), do not attempt to handle the process on your own. Keeping yourself and your family safe should be your first priority – and a sewage treatment professional can make sure that you accomplish that goal and get your home back in order at the same time.