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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