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The bedbug is a parasite that feeds on the blood of humans and other mammals. The appearance of this insect in the home is evidenced by the usually visible bite of a bedbug on the skin. Bed bugs can be extremely difficult to eliminate. The bedbug bite itself often causes bothersome symptoms, but it can also lead to medical conditions. What do bedbugs look like, what diseases do they transmit and what does a bite look like?
Bed bugs are classified as a parasite. Their food source is the human body, from which they suck blood by biting. It is practically impossible to locate the source of bedbugs, and their elimination requires time and appropriate resources. The symptoms of bedbug bites are extremely bothersome and usually are the first sign of their presence. Most often to elimination of bedbugs the help of a specialist is necessary, and sometimes there is a need to throw away the furniture, organize a renovation, and when the problem is impossible to solve – to move.
- The 10 most dangerous parasites that lurk in food
Bed bugs can settle in our apartment when they are brought from outside. Their presence is in no way associated with the lack of hygiene, low standard of living or dirt in the apartment. Bedbugs can also become established in well-sanitized homes. It is facilitated by removals, travels or overnight stays in bug-proof places (e.g. hospitals, dormitories, hotels).
Some may spread bedbugs unknowingly to furniture in public spaces. It is from there that they can also reach our home.
Bedbug – the appearance of the parasite
Bed bugs can be recognized by their characteristic oval shape. They are red-brown in color and their size ranges from 5 to 7 millimeters. On the other hand, those who are starved and do not have a host are distinguished by their yellow-brown color. The bedbug is also equipped with three pairs of agile, well-developed and coordinated legs, which additionally contain claws. They allow the parasite to cling to the human body. It’s also worth noting that smooth and clean surfaces make it easier for bedbugs to move around. The head of the parasite is small, short, and has a pair of eyes and 4-segment antennae.
A bedbug can be mistaken for a German cockroach, which looks quite similar.
Female bedbugs lay up to several hundred eggs a year. They can be seen with the naked eye, but are easier to identify on dark surfaces because they are white. Under favorable conditions, so when it is very warm, bedbug larvae it takes a few days to develop, but it takes a few weeks on average. An adult bedbug lives up to two years on average.
If we are wondering what a bedbug bite looks like, then it is not always particularly characteristic. They can be confused with mosquito bites, fleas or lice, but also with other skin lesions. The trace itself at the site of the bite is small or even imperceptible. In the absence of symptoms, it is difficult to tell if a bedbug is to blame. If, on the other hand, we notice a few traces at a short distance (in one line or forming a triangle), this most likely indicates a bedbug bite.
Blood is food for bedbugs, which are considered human parasites. Bedbug bites usually occur at night, when the victim is asleep. The host is found using antennae. Symptoms vary by body. For some it may be without any symptoms, while for others, bites may be synonymous with severe ailments or even the occurrence of disease states. It is worth noting that the bedbug bite itself is not painful due to the anesthetic substance injected by it.
Main symptom of a bedbug bite is the appearance of red areas on the skin. Redness may appear around them. These marks are not very painful but can make the skin very itchy. Such red areas usually appear on areas of the body that are exposed during sleep, such as the neck, abdomen, legs, and feet. For an adult bedbug, it is sufficient to collect blood from the host every few days.
The symptoms of a bedbug bite are often confused with other skin problems. Therefore, to make sure that the skin lesions are caused by bites, you should look for the bodies of bedbugs or their eggs at home.
Bedbug bite – how to relieve symptoms?
If a bedbug has bitten us and we are accompanied by any of the symptoms described above, it is usually enough to wait or reach for a pharmacy preparation to make them disappear completely.
Bedbug bite – diseases
As with other blood-sucking parasites, bed bugs can harbor a variety of pathogens. Although this fact has been confirmed, there is no evidence that humans can become infected with these pathogens. Due to the lack of appropriate studies, it cannot be excluded or confirmed that in the event of a bedbug bite there is a risk of infection with hepatitis B virus or enterococci.
Bed bugs usually hide in shaded places, so if you notice redness on the skin, it is worth checking all gaps and holes. They can also be found on bedding or hidden in books. It is best to check the bed area and clean it thoroughly. Besides, if we find a bedbug in the house, we should also ask the neighbors if they have a problem with them, as bedbugs often appear in other – neighboring – apartments.
Protection against bedbugs
One hundred percent protection of the house against bedbugs is not possible, because we can bring them from the outside completely unconsciously. However, some preventive measures can be implemented. The key is to minimize the risk and be careful when traveling. If we spend the night away from home in a hotel or other accommodation facility, it is worth checking the bed area and making sure that I do not have bedbugs there. Parasites also spread in luggage and on clothes.
Upholstered furniture in public spaces can also be a source of bedbugs. If we were in such a place, it is recommended to check clothes for bedbugs and eggs as well as to wash clothes immediately at a temperature above 45 degrees Celsius.
If parasites are suspected to be in the apartment, check all places where they may have been hiding. They are usually found in the bed and its nooks and crannies, in mattresses, bedding, and on nearby furniture or carpets. You need to check an area up to a few meters from the bed, including curtains, paintings, picture frames, even baseboards and any gaps.
If we detect parasites in our home, we need to implement appropriate measures to get rid of them. Bed bugs can be eliminated, for example, by using liquid nitrogen with which the apartment is frozen. Another way is to heat the apartment at a temperature of around 60 degrees Celsius. Bed bugs can also be killed using biocidal concentrates having the appropriate concentration. Such measures are used in pressure spraying and ULV fogging, which cover the entire area of the house.
They have the highest effectiveness against bedbugs multi-phase methodsthat will kill not only parasites, but also eggs that are resistant to chemicals, but not to high temperatures. Services to get rid of these insects are provided by companies specializing in pest control.
- Also read: Bites by midges, mosquitoes, tsetse flies, bloodworms, ground fleas
Bed bugs and other household insects
Nuisance insects that can cause problems when they infest your home include more than bedbugs. Some arthropods live on the human body and cause specific diseases. These include lice that cause head lice and human scabies, a type of mite that causes scabies.
Unwanted tenants of our apartment and the cause of visible bites on the body can also be:
- fleas – human flea bites can cause itching, redness, sometimes rash and swelling, and in case of allergies, also blisters or erythema. This insect also poses a threat due to the diseases it transmits (typhus, formerly plague) and pathogens (staphylococcus aureus).
- spiders – in most homes, you can come across house spiders from time to time; species living in Poland are not venomous or aggressive, but there are sporadic bites that do not leave a trace or have the form of two small points lying close to each other, accompanied by slight redness or swelling. If your symptoms worsen, see your doctor as this might indicate an allergic reaction.
- ducks – dies popular in Poland are in fact insects from the dandelion family, the bites of which take the form of open mornings, sometimes accompanied by redness and swelling. There is also a certain risk of allergic reactions. In exceptional circumstances, poisoning with substances in the saliva of the nap may occur.
You can also use bite preparations that will alleviate unwanted symptoms, such as Herbapol Insect Bite Gel. Antiseptic effect has Maruna Pyrethrum herb, which can be found on Medonet Market.
If we have infested our apartment with cockroaches, food or clothes moths, we do not have to be afraid of one thing – bites. There is no doubt, however, that we want to get rid of these pests as soon as possible. Although they do not bite, they carry contamination and can spread disease.
Read also:
- Bites by midges, mosquitoes, tsetse flies, bloodworms, ground fleas
- Repellants – effective ways to fight insects and more
- The seven mosquito-borne diseases