Bed Bug Bites

Bugged And Bitten: The Bed Bug Problem

Having a good night’s sleep could be next to impossible if your bed is infested with bed bugs. Suffering from a bed bug bite can be equal to a nightmare, as it can be very itchy and distressing. While bed bugs are surely a pest to life, it is good to know there is a plethora of solutions to the problems they present.

Know your enemy - The Bed Bug

Scientifically known as “Cimes lectularius”, bed bugs are tiny, wingless insects that can be found anyplace in the world. Bed bugs operate similarly to nocturnal parasites meanings they active in finding human hosts during nighttime and are normally asleep during the day. They situate themselves in on mattresses and bedding where they can easily find a source of food.

Bed bugs bite using their highly developed mouth parts and they usually attack when the person occupying the bed is fast asleep. These parts include an elongated peak that can easily pierce the skin and suck blood. The engorgement period only takes a short period to complete finishing as fast as less than a minute to lasting for as long as three minutes. However, a bed bug bite is painless and the human host will only be able to determine that he has been victimized long after the bed bug has finished the meal.

A bed with many holes and tears may be very uncomfortable for the person sleeping on its but this is the perfect hiding place for bed bugs. Bed bugs are not picky on where they want to stay as long as they have someone to bite.

Bed bugs can live in sleeping bags, egg foam, cardboard stacks or even water beds. Water beds have nooks and crannies and are usually warm, which is the preferred temperature of bed bugs.

Bed Bug Bitten?

You know you have been bitten by a bed bug if you see large wheals. These wheals eventually become a small red mark that only last for a few days. The bite is also made in orderly rows unlike the random pattern made by mosquitoes and could become itchy.

The worst beg bug bites are those that swell and form blisters or even those that result in small loss of skin tissue. It is interesting to note that not all bites or any bite-like reactions are caused by bed bugs. Those bitten should try to find the bugs themselves or consult a specialist.

Those bitten should not be too worried about getting any hazardous disease from a bed bug bite. The medical significance of the bites is limited mainly to inflammation and itching. Washing the bite with soap and water is the proper way to immediately treat bites. Various anti-itch creams are available in drugstores.

Scratching the affected area is a sure way to make it worse, as this normally results to an infection. Using an icepack is also advisable to minimize swelling. If the pain gets to severe, taking a prescribed pain-killing medication will help.<br><br>

Spraying DDT has been a popular practice of getting rid of bed bugs years ago but has been banned because of the possible complications it might cause to humans. Treatments available today are more focused and judicious. Inspecting a bed bug infestation usually takes a few hours. Homeowners that hire professionals to solve their bed bug problems should follow certain procedures before a room or house if treated.

Garments or beddings that are badly infested need to be discarded, as these cannot be sprayed with insecticides. Reducing clutter is also a requirement. Rooms filled with belongings will just slowdown inspection and treatment.

Garments or bedding badly infested need to be discarded, as these cannot be sprayed with insecticides. Reducing clutter is also a requirement. A room filled with belongings will just slowdown inspection and treatment.

Bed bugs cannot survive any area with temperature of below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. However, any attempt to kill bed bugs by chilling a room has a low chance of success, as the cold temperature should be maintained for at least two weeks. Pest-control experts normally use a wide array of aerosols, low-odor sprays or dusts.

Maintaining proper hygiene and cleanliness is the best way to avoid bed bug bites. Bed sheets should be changed at least once a week and floors especially those carpeted need to be vacuumed frequently. If possible, locate the home of the bedbugs and spray it with a special insecticide to kill a considerable number of these unwanted visitors.

Bed Bugs Bites Continued...

Bed bugs can be everywhere. Most probably, your bed contains hundreds to thousands of bed bugs that crawl and creep into your body when you are asleep.

Bed bugs are like insects equipped with intelligence. They really can get smart. Bed bugs suck the blood of their host, which of course are humans, and sometimes animal pets like fogs, cats, birds and even bats.

Long time ago, bed bugs are most prevalent among birds’ nests. But because just like the human species, bed bugs are evolving and adapting to environmental changes, they have learned to crawl into people’s homes, particularly beds and room surfaces.

Bed bugs take their sumptuous meals by using their elongated beaks to pierce through the skin of the host. After that, they start the feast and harshly suck on blood until they can no longer take more.

What a fortune! While people find it hard to find food, bed bugs find it very easy. And more often, they feast and not run out of supplies.

Diseases from Bed Bugs

Doctors and medical practitioners assure, however, that bed bugs’ bites are not that harmful. Mosquito bites are far more threatening because they can sometimes transfer a number of serious ailments like malaria, dysentery, elephantiasis or h-fever.

In comparison, bites of bed bugs do not pose much health risk. Bed bugs can be a host to a number of diseases but they seldom pass this on to their hosts or victims.

Good thing that bed bugs are safe biters when it comes to ailments and diseases transferred through that way.

Understanding how bed bugs bite

As described earlier, bed bugs use their beaks to pierce skin and get or suck the abundant supply of blood. By doing so, it is inevitable for them not to transfer or leave their saliva into the pierced skin.

This saliva, thankfully, can never contain diseases or pathogens. But, these saliva can cause allergic reactions. Some people’s systems will react harshly to such bites.

Hence, most bed bugs’ bites swell after 10 minutes to 24 hours. Just like mosquito bites, they swell and appear reddish. They are also accompanied by little discomfort and itchiness.

The itch from bed bugs’ bites can be so persistent and annoying that if you keep on scratching, you will be tempted to make it harder. By that, you will be creating little wounds.

At most, that is what bed bugs’ bites can do.

Avoiding bed bugs’ bites

Of course, the beat and most effective way to prevent or avoid bed bugs’ bites is by making sure the insects will not appear during sleep hours. And how can that be?

By ensuring that your bed or your room as a whole is not infested by bed bugs. To prevent bed bugs from attacking, maintain hygiene and cleanliness. Regularly clean the room and be thorough in cleaning crevices and cracks on floors and walls.

If you like traveling, make sure the place you are staying in is not infested with bed bugs. Otherwise, bed bugs can get into your baggage, and voila, when you unpack your things at home, bed bugs will be spread into your room.

There are also insect-repellant products in the market. There are those products that can be applied to your skin like lotion. Once you have these repellant, bed bugs will be reluctant to get near you. They will find your skin a danger zone and will find you unappealing as a food source. Isn’t that appealing to you?

Bed bugs Bites Conclusion

Bed bugs’ bites are hard to avoid especially if you are not living alone in your room, or you have thousands of bed bugs families in your bed. Prevention is better than cure.

Might as well be very careful not to make your room and bed breeding grounds for bed bugs. In the market, you can also find dozens of lotions or skin products that serve as repellant to bed bugs.

Being bitten by bed bugs can never be serious, don’t worry. All you have to do is treat the bitten skin part the way you treat mosquito bites. They normally fade out and heal by themselves over a little time.