Friday, April 3, 2020

Bed Bugs and Disease

Bedbugs are small, oval, brownish insects that live on the blood of animals or humans. Adult bedbugs have flat bodies about the size of an apple seed. After feeding, however, their bodies swell and are a reddish color.

Bedbugs do not fly, but they can move quickly over floors, walls, and ceilings. Female bedbugs may lay hundreds of eggs, each of which is about the size of a speck of dust, over a lifetime.

Immature bedbugs, called nymphs, shed their skins five times before reaching maturity and require a meal of blood before each shedding. Under favorable conditions the bugs can develop fully in as little as a month and produce three or more generations per year.

Although they are a nuisance, they are not thought to transmit diseases.

Where Bed Bugs Hide

Bedbugs may enter your home undetected through luggage, clothing, used beds and couches, and other items. Their flattened bodies make it possible for them to fit into tiny spaces, about the width of a credit card. Bedbugs do not have nests like ants or bees, but tend to live in groups in hiding places. Their initial hiding places are typically in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and headboards where they have easy access to people to bite in the night.

When considering bed bugs and disease, the prevalent medical position is they do carry disease organisms, but they are not known to transmit disease. While some sources claim that bed bugs are to blame for the spread of leprosy, Q-fever, oriental sores and brucellosis, these cases are poorly documented.

However, secondary infection may result if someone fails to keep the bites clean and disinfected, leading to swelling and bleeding of the bites. Infections are more likely to develop in children, those with suppressed immune systems and the elderly, especially those who are bedridden and unable to walk. Also, some people bitten by bed bugs have experienced allergic reactions that require medical attention, especially when exposed to numerous bites.

The greatest risk posed by bed bugs is the irritation of bites or the psychological concerns resulting in lack of sleep and stress. Bed bug bites do not typically become visible until a day or more after the insect's feeding, if at all, since some people never react to being bitten. In extreme reactions, large wheals can appear. These wheals gradually reduce in size, becoming small, red marks.

Bed bug bites can cause itching and may also result in swelling or blister-like skin inflammations. It is important to note that other non-bed-bug sources can result in skin irritations as well.

If you are experiencing bites or other skin reactions, contact a physician. If bed bugs are present in the home, a pest control professional should be contacted to eliminate them.

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