{"id":1773,"date":"2013-05-19T12:25:16","date_gmt":"2013-05-19T16:25:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biomelsante.com\/en\/?p=1773"},"modified":"2013-06-27T10:03:05","modified_gmt":"2013-06-27T14:03:05","slug":"bed-bugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biomelsante.com\/en\/bed-bugs\/","title":{"rendered":"BED BUGS- HEALTH PROBLEMS due to Bed Bugs?! How to KILL BED BUGS get rid of bed bugs"},"content":{"rendered":"

BED BUGS- Health problems due to bed bugs?! How to KILL BED BUGS get rid of bed bugs?<\/h4>\n

Bed Bugs<\/strong><\/p>\n

How to kill bed bugs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Preparation for the treatment of bed bugs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bed bugs have oval flattened bodies, wingless and measure 4-7 mm long.\u00a0They are a shiny brown colored insect. They swell after a blood meal and then take a dark brown color.\u00a0There are three stages in the development cycle of a flea: egg, nymph and adult.\u00a0The eggs are white and about 1 mm long.\u00a0The nymphs look the same as adults, but are smaller.\u00a0The last stage takes six weeks to several months to happen.\u00a0The bug is usually found in the bedroom where it feeds on the sleepers’ blood at night.<\/p>\n

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Biology\u00a0<\/strong>Bed bugs feed on human blood:<\/strong>\u00a0The most common species is the common bed bug (Cimex Mlectularius). They are a serious nuisance and abundantly present.<\/p>\n

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A blood meal takes 10 to 15 minutes for the adult bedbug, but less time for the nymph.\u00a0During the day, the bug lies mainly on the periphery of the mattress.\u00a0Depending on the degree of the infestation, it is also found hidden in cracks on the walls, floors and furnitures, in bed frames, behind pictures and under the wallpaper, hiding places also serve as breeding sites.<\/p>\n

A temperature of 44o<\/sup>C to 45o<\/sup>C (111o<\/sup>F – 113o<\/sup>F) is lethal to these bugs.\u00a0Their survival time is assessed to about 20 minutes when the temperature is 65o<\/sup>C.<\/p>\n

Adults can survive more than a year without getting any blood.<\/p>\n

Dispersion<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The bug does not get far from its host if it can eat from them regularly.\u00a0If the infestation is heavy, they can migrate to other rooms.\u00a0The absence of prey leads to a dispersion of the bug.\u00a0Thus, when the bugs are present in a room where the people sleep regularly, they tend to stay put.\u00a0Be careful because if you remove them from the room, the bugs will be dispersed throughout the house or even elsewhere in the building.\u00a0If this is not the case, they move from one room to another while walking on the ground.\u00a0Removal or displacement of articles already infested (furniture, bedding, clothing, suitcases, etc..) From an inhabited place to another is the main mode of spread of bedbugs.<\/p>\n

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Importance for your health<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Table 1 summarizes the main effects on the skin (and other more rare cases) associated with bedbug bites.\u00a0The lesions are similar to those occasioned by a mosquito bite.\u00a0Typically, bedbug bites appear as three to four bites in a straight line or grouped in one place on the skin, but if the house is seriously infested, several lesions may appear in multiple places on exposed skin when sleeping.<\/p>\n

For most people, the bites will result in the formation of small reddish lesions that develop into elevated and hardened lesions.\u00a0There is frequently a central puncture site of inoculation.\u00a0These lesions cause severe itching, therefore, they are very troublesome.\u00a0These lesions are more symptomatic in the morning and the intensity of redness and pruritus (itching) decreases during the day.\u00a0The lesions occur mainly on exposed arms, legs and back.\u00a0If the person is not stung again, the lesions disappear after two weeks.<\/p>\n

Effects much less frequent but more serious may occur such as nettlerash and giant bulbous eruption that may be hemorrhagic.\u00a0Children with atopy (allergies) are more likely to develop papular urticaria.\u00a0Finally, anaphylactic reactions have rarely been documented (see Table 1 for a brief description of these effects on health).<\/p>\n

In another words, secondary bacterial infections can occur from recurrent scratching from itching.\u00a0However, this case is rare.<\/p>\n

Table 1.\u00a0Summary of skin problems associated with bedbugs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Type of problem<\/strong><\/td>\nBrief Description<\/strong><\/td>\nFrequency<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wheal<\/td>\nA smooth, slightly elevated, more reddish or pale skin surrounding the associated itching and usually transient.<\/td>\nFollowing each bite<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nettlerash<\/td>\nRapid swelling of the skin with severe itching.<\/td>\nRare<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bulbous eruptions sometimes bleeding<\/td>\nSimilar to the bells on the skin, sometimes filled with blood.<\/td>\nRare<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Papular urticaria<\/td>\nPresence of papules 3 to 10 mm, sometimes surmounted by a vesicle that is more persistent than the wheals or typical nettlerash.\u00a0These lesions can last from several weeks to several months.\u00a0They are generally clustered and occur more often in young children.\u00a0We can find these lesions on exposed parts.<\/td>\nRare<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

No research has focused on the impact of an infestation by bugs on mental health and sleep.\u00a0However, some references indicate that repeated bug bites could cause insomnia and anxiety.<\/p>\n

Although at one time bug bites were suspected of transmitting viral hepatitis, or to develop anemia caused by multiple stings, so far, no proof of disease transmission by bugs or development of anemia has been documented.<\/p>\n

Improper application of insecticides on mattresses to eliminate bugs can have important effects on health, particularly towards children.\u00a0This practice is therefore to be avoided (see next section).<\/p>\n

Control Measures<\/h3>\n

When the presence of bedbugs is suspected, it is strongly advised to call a professional to ensure that they are located correctly and that the various control methods (including the use of insecticides in some areas) are adequately made according to the standards. exterminators must first ensure that the right product is used and that insecticides are not spread over the beds of people.\u00a0The exterminator is coming every month out of two in order to kill the bugs that will hatch despite the first use of insecticide.\u00a0Several steps must be taken by the occupant during the process of extermination.\u00a0These measures are explained to tenants by the firm responsible of the extermination.<\/p>\n

Locating the insects
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The infestation can be confirmed by the discovery (in the potential hiding places of bedbugs) of live insects, exuviae, eggs or faeces.\u00a0These can be visible as small dark brown or black spots on the sheets, walls and wallpaper, and sometimes even in electrical appliances.<\/p>\n

Control Methods<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1.\u00a0Physical Barriers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Simple barriers may be used. A barrier can be made by coating the legs of the bed with a few inches of petroleum jelly (Vaseline).<\/p>\n

However, it should ensure that no part of the bed touches a wall that would provide an alternative access to the bed.<\/p>\n

2. Cleaning by vacuum<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Vacuuming is a very effective way to remove bugs already present.\u00a0It is recommended to vacuum the mattress and box springs particularly where the seams, folds and structures are in the infested beds.\u00a0If the outer envelope of the mattress is torn, bed bugs may have seeped inside it.\u00a0If so, you may be obliged to dispose of the mattress, in this case, it is very important to clearly indicate that the mattress is infested so as not to shift the problem elsewhere.\u00a0You\u00a0should also vacuum the floor and where it is suspected that the bugs are hiding. Be sure to get rid of the vacuum bag immediately, without opening it, in a place where bugs can’t disperse again.<\/p>\n

Used furniture should always be carefully inspected and cleaned before being used.\u00a0Bedbugs are easily dispersed through the exchange of furniture or clothes.<\/p>\n

3. Cleaning the bedding<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Bedding (pillowcases, sheets, mattress covers, etc.) and linen should be washed with hot water and soap.\u00a0The bedding should be placed directly into the washer from a plastic bag to prevent the spread of bedbugs in the laundry room and around the building.<\/p>\n

4. Use of insecticides<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We recall that it is always advisable to hire a professional exterminator to treat your home with insecticides. It will use a registered insecticide while respecting the recommendations designed to minimize the risks associated with the use of these products.\u00a0Among the effective insecticides, it is preferable to use pyrethrins, pyrethroids and boric acid, as these products have a lower toxicity to humans than many other types of insecticides. People should avoid to do the extermination themselves, since the bugs are often resistant to the product used. If the product is misused, it will aggravate the problem rather than decrease it.\u00a0Moreover, it is strongly recommended to use hot\u00a0steam<\/strong>\u00a0for the treatment of the mattress which are favorite places for bugs.\u00a0This technique is effective and can significantly reduce children’s exposure to insecticides.<\/p>\n

Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are sprayed everywhere we can find bedbugs, or along cracks in the walls, floor and furniture, bed frames, behind pictures and under the wallpaper.\u00a0You must ventilate the area after the application of insecticides.\u00a0Neither people nor animals should enter the rooms during the application of treatment or re-enter treated areas within two hours after treatment, and preferably six hours after treatment.\u00a0It is also important\u00a0to<\/strong>\u00a0not<\/strong>\u00a0walk barefoot on treated areas until 24-48 hours.<\/p>\n

Boric acid is applied along the cracks in walls, floors, behind furniture and under the wallpaper that generally have bedbugs.<\/p>\n

The insecticides do not work on the eggs. We must therefore repeat the treatment a month after applying the first treatment to ensure that the problem is eliminated.<\/p>\n

Identification<\/h3>\n
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Adults: 5-8 mm
\nNymphs: 1-5 mm
\nEggs: 1 mm
\nAntennas: 4 segments<\/p>\n

The color varies from a pale yellow to a brownish red depending on the stage of development\u00a0and blood ingested.<\/p>\n

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\/ Signs of infestation<\/p>\n