Bed bugs, signs of their presence and how to get rid of them
ArabiaWeather - At the beginning of the fall of 2023 , the French capital, Paris, announced a widespread increase in the number of bed bugs, and this increase included public transportation. In response to this situation, the French government pledged to take measures to ensure the comfort and protection of the population.
For his part, Michael Potter, professor emeritus in the Department of Entomology at the University of Kentucky , expressed concern about this development and said:
“This kind of thing is difficult to predict, but the surge in travel demand and worker shortages in the hospitality industry are raising the tension about bedbug infestations.”
Potter stressed that the spread of bed bugs can occur in various places, but hotels and other places of residence are considered a major point of spread for these insects.
Signs of bed bugs
Bedbugs are considered one of the most annoying and disturbing pests in homes, as they can cause many health and psychological problems. There are signs of its presence in your home that make the process of identifying it and getting rid of it easier.
How can you identify the presence of bed bugs in your home?
Answer: If you have itchy skin and insect bites, there is a possibility that you have bedbugs in your home. Three or four bites can appear on your skin, either in a straight or clustered distribution. Bedbugs are often itchy in the exposed areas of your skin. Such as arms, legs and back.
The US Environmental Protection Agency indicated that there is a need to educate people about the importance of differentiating between bed bugs and other insects such as carpet beetles, so it is useful to increase your knowledge before you inspect the home, and this may include studying close-up photos of these insects.
Signs that you have bed bugs can include:
- The presence of rusty or red spots on sheets or mattresses. These spots occur when bed bugs are crushed.
- The presence of dark spots the size of a dot , and these spots are the feces of bedbugs after they feed on blood.
- Seeing eggs and eggshells , which are very small.
- Note the outer shell of insects that it can shed when moulting.
- If the infestation is severe, you may notice a musty odor .
What do bed bugs look like?
Answer: Adult bed bugs are often the size of an apple seed , 5 to 7 millimeters in size, are reddish-brown in color, and have a flat, oval body if they have not recently fed, and become rounder if they have fed.
As for young bed bugs , they are often smaller, and usually appear transparent or whitish-yellow in color, and if they have not fed recently, they may become almost invisible to the naked eye. As for bed bug eggs, they are the size of a pinhead and are pearly white in color.
How do bed bugs spread?
Answer: Without knowing it, you can bring bedbugs into your home through suitcases, personal bags, or even through your clothes. Bed bugs can also enter your home through furniture, especially if you have used mattresses or furniture.
In addition, bed bugs can be transmitted between apartments within the same building , so do not feel ashamed if this situation occurs. The presence of bed bugs in your home does not necessarily mean that the place is unclean. Also, dirt is not the main reason for attracting bed bugs, and their presence does not mean that your home Dirty Dirt does not attract bed bugs, but clutter can make it easier for them to move in and hide.
What are the common locations where bed bugs can travel, and we should be aware of them when traveling?
Answer: Although night-time sleeping areas are considered the most affected by the presence of bed bugs, the unfortunate reality is that bed bugs can travel and spread in a variety of areas.
Schools, libraries, apartment buildings, movie theaters, hospitals, office buildings, taxis, buses, trains, and college dorms can all be host sites for bed bugs, said Michael Potter, professor emeritus in the Department of Entomology at the University of Kentucky .
However, he noted that it is impractical to check all of these sites, and warned against getting into a bedbug panic; Potter offered advice on the Airbnb platform, saying:
“It's bad enough to get bedbug bites in a hotel, but what you don't want to do is bring them home with you.”
He recommended emptying the travel bag of its contents, placing it in garbage bags, then washing the clothes and drying them for a long time, as the heat of the clothes dryer can kill bed bugs.
As for the bag itself, it can be opened and placed in the car in a sunny place that receives sunlight, as the heat will kill the bed bugs within about an hour. If you do not have the ability to expose the bag to this high temperature, you can simply dispose of the bag if you are concerned. This costs much less than dealing with bed bugs in your home.
How to get rid of bed bugs
Answer: Bed bugs are skilled at moving, as they can easily move from a contaminated place to a new home via furniture, mattresses, bags, boxes, and clothes.
If you suspect bed bugs in your home, make sure you clean the house regularly, seal any bags or bags tightly and dispose of them in the trash outside the home and try to avoid buying used mattresses, sofas or chairs, as they may contain bed bugs and put your home at risk.
How do you act if you are bitten by a bedbug?
Answer: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States has good news for those who have been exposed to bedbug bites, as it confirms that bedbugs do not transmit any diseases.
However, itchy bites can cause poor sleep and secondary skin infections if the bite site is scratched intensely and violently. In addition, some people may experience a serious allergic reaction.
These bites may also negatively affect your psychological health, with some people feeling anxious and embarrassed, although experts stress that this does not reflect a state of personal hygiene or home care.
The following are typical steps for treatment:
- Gently wash the bite site with soap and water.
- Use anti-itch cream or lotion on the affected skin.
- Repeat these steps once or twice daily until the itching disappears.
- If the itching is severe, talk to a health care professional about prescribing a stronger steroid cream or antihistamine medication, whether over-the-counter or prescription.
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