Do You Have Bedbugs?

by Renee Garcia on September 12, 2009

Do you know what bedbugs are? These are insects that were killed by potent insecticides years ago. Unfortunately, when the use of these insecticides were banned and when international travel increased, bedbug infestations also started re-surfacing. How will you know if you have a bedbug infestation?

One sign of bedbug infestations is the bedbug bites. Bedbugs bite humans and other warm-blooded animals for their blood. A bedbug bite can be pinkish to red in color and flat or raised welts. Flea bites have the typical red dot in the middle but bedbug bites are known for their linear pattern. You can see bites forming a row or an arch. It was observed that the linear pattern results from any disruption while the bedbug is feeding. For instance, if the host moves, the bedbug changes position as well.

When a bedbug bites you, it usually takes a few hours for the bite marks to appear. But in other people, in can take a day or more for the bedbug bites to appear. The good news is that bedbug bites do not carry any disease.

With the bite marks come itchiness. And the degree of itchiness also changes among people. Some only feel mild discomfort while others lose hours of sleep over it.

Allergic reactions can also result from bedbug bites. But this is a rare occurrence. To address the itchiness, antihistamines or systemic corticosteroids are prescribed by doctors. These medications only treat the itchiness and not the lesions. Topical corticosteroids can be applied to get rid of the itchiness and the lesions.

It may take days or weeks for the bite marks to disappear. Refrain from scratching these because it will just cause scars.

The best sign of a bedbug infestation is seeing the insect with your own eyes. Take note of the time when you get bitten. Was it after you slept on a certain piece of furniture? If the bedbug bites appear after you slept on your bed, check your mattress. Look if there are cracks and holes in your mattress. Also see if you find red and brown spots. The red spots are from blood of insects that were crushed while the brown spots are form their feces.

Once you have established these evidences, it is high time to get rid of the bedbugs.

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