Bedbugs (or bed bugs) are small, elusive, and parasitic insects of the family Cimicidae. It is reddish-brown, oval-shaped and can grow to a quarter of an inch long. It is known as bed bug because these creatures prefer to live in the place we sleep, usually in our mattresses. However, they also hide in mattresses, carpets, wallpapers and in crevices in wooded furniture. Bed bugs survive by sucking blood from a host animal, and since human beings are the ones on the bed, we are prone to be victimized by these bugs.
Usually you can’t sense a bed bug bite while it happens, since bed bugs are nocturnal and typically bite people while they sleep, usually just before dawn. If you are bitten by bed bugs, you might suffer itchy welts or red bumps that sting and you might also feel extreme stress and anxiety. Different people react differently to bedbug’s bites and individual responses vary with factors including skin type, environment, and the species of bug. Bed bugs do not carry diseases but the bites might get infection, which will lead to sickness. Therefore, once bitten, take super fast medical actions.
One good advice is to wash your bed bug bite with soap and water. Then apply some ice and use no-itch cream. That way, it won’t leave any scare or marks on your affected area. However, if you notice yellow, white or greenish goo oozing out from the bed bug bite, it indicates that the wound had been infected. Please make sure you visit the doctor if this happens because infections can lead to more severe health consequences.
To avoid being bitten by this insect is to ensure that your mattress is bed bug free. Bed bugs are big enough to see so constantly look out for bed bugs particularly under mattresses, in the seams, along the cracks or peeling paint on the walls. You can also spot bed bugs droppings, which may be tinged with blood. In fact, dogs can also be trained to sniff out bed bugs, though this is not a popular method. If you find evidence of bed bug existence in your house, maybe it’s time to call in pest control or exterminator.
Pest management professionals usually utilize a residual chemical insecticide to treat bed bugs. This insecticide is highly fatal to bed bug and comes in liquid or dust spray that will be deposited on surfaces suspected to be crawled by bed bugs. These insecticides are generally not harmful to pets or children, but it is best that you double check the information with the professionals. Exterminating termites is a team effort between the professionals and the house occupant. After the professionals had done their job, they will also need your cooperation in ensuring that these bed bugs won’t revisit. They would issue instructions which include laundering clothes and discarding infested furniture.
It is advisable to schedule a follow-up inspection or treatment 10 to 21 days after the initial or previous treatment. Sometimes, a house requires 3 or 4 treatments before the problem can be solved. But whatever it is, once you wave bye-bye to these parasites, you can be certain that you and your family can enjoy a good night sleep without worry.