Bugged And Bitten – Bed Bugs
Bites
Having a good night’s
sleep could be next to impossible if your bed is infested
with bed bugs. Suffering from bed bug bites 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
Scientifically known as “Cimes lectularius”, bed bugs are tiny,
wingless insects that can be found anywhere in the world. Bed
bugs are mainly a nocturnal parasite which means they are
active in finding human hosts for a feed during night time and
stay dormant during the day. They live in mattresses, bedding
and other crevices near a source of food.
Bed bugs use their highly developed mouth parts to bite and
usually attack the person occupying the bed when fast asleep.
These mouth parts have an elongated peak that can easily pierce
the skin and suck blood. The engorgement period can take up to
five 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.
Bed bugs are not picky on where they want to stay as long as
they have someone to bite. They 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 bites
Bed bug bite scars result in a red welt or slight swelling of
the skin 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 bed 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.
In the past DDT was used to eradicate bed bugs, but due to the
possible danger to humans and pets this insecticide has been
banned. 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 is 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.
Bed bugs cannot survive in temperatures of below 32 degrees
Fahrenheit (below 0 degrees Celsius). 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.
More
information about bed bugs is available on http://www.bedbugsuncovered.com
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