by Naomi LightWhat Are The Problems Of Bed Bugs?
Have you considered: what are the problems of bed bugs? We look at signs of a bedbug infestation and why bed bugs are a health issue?
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are a common pest in the UK and are parasitic insects that feed on human blood. They are tiny insects that are typically reddish-brown but will appear redder in complexion when full of blood. Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed most commonly, and they don’t have wings, so they rely on crawling to get places.
Once they have entered your home, which is typically via our clothes, bags and pets, they will begin to reproduce into the hundreds and thousands. They stay close to their hosts and can manoeuvre through your house with ease once inside. A female bed bug will lay eggs consistently, causing hundreds of these pests to stay in your home. When hatched, a nymph will develop into an adult bed bug in just under a month and can begin causing problems and breeding.
This can quickly cause a bed bug infestation, so if you would like to avoid that – keep reading this article.
Signs Of A Bedbug Infestation
You will be unlikely to spot the bed bugs themselves before you notice other signs and symptoms arising, as they are so small. However, there are some telltale signs that you are experiencing a bed bug infestation in your home.
- Bloodstains on pillowcases and bedsheets
- A musty odour from the scent glands of bedbugs
- Dark spots of excrement on the mattress, sheets and clothes when you wake up
- Eggshells, shed skins, faecal spots in and around your bed where they are hiding.
Bed bugs bite you in your sleep, and these will be the first sign of an infestation. Insect bites are never a pleasant experience but show you that they are there before greater health risks occur. There are more signs, too, as you could perhaps spot a dead bedbug in your bed, and this is a sign that your home has an infestation.
Why Are Bed Bugs A Health Issue?
Unlike other pests such as fleas or mice, bed bugs do not spread diseases such as E.Coli. That being said, they still represent a greater issue and raise health problems for you and your family.
It’s important to remember that just because you have bed bugs in your home, your property isn’t a dirty one. They are attracted to blood and not filth or dirt, hence why you can find bed bugs in any property, no matter how often it’s cleaned. They can spread incredibly easily through apartment complexes and areas that are closely knit, though.
If you do not appropriately deal with and eliminate bed bug populations in your home, you could face one of these ranging effects and more:
Allergic Reactions
Many people can experience severe allergic reactions to bed bug bites. In some cases, this can become so extreme that anaphylaxis kicks in across the whole body.
Secondary Infections
It’s also possible to experience ecthyma, impetigo and lymphangitis from a bed bug bite, irritating and causing discomfort to the skin.
Mental Health
Once your home has had a bed bug infestation, you can find yourself experiencing insomnia, anxiety and other systemic reactions along with depression.
Symptoms Of Bedbug Bites
Where you have noticed blood on your pillowcases or bed bug excrement in the sheets, you may have noticed a small bite mark on your skin. If you are waking up itchy and with a few red spots clustered on your arms, neck, face and hands – this could be a sign of bed bugs.
Most people will experience itching and discomfort, and that’s where the irritation from a bed bug bite stops. Still, you can experience severe allergic reactions that create hives and blisters on your skin, among other symptoms.
If you find yourself suffering from an allergic reaction, be sure to visit a doctor as soon as possible for medical attention.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?
Bed bugs are small and therefore incredibly challenging to spot and hide in various places. Once they have come into your home, they will hide in your clothing, bags, beds, sofas and furniture.
While they live in groups, they do not make nests the same way other insects do, instead making a home in your mattress, bed frames, headboard, or somewhere else close to your bedroom. Once they have found their host, they tend to stay close for feeding. You can sometimes find their hiding spot by the level of bed bug excrement that is around.
When Do Bedbugs Bite?
Bed bugs are mainly nocturnal and will perform most of their biting at night when you are sleeping. Despite being so small, they can pierce human skin with their elongated beak and drain blood anywhere from 3-10 minutes, meaning you are none the wiser until you awaken.
When you wake in the morning, you may begin to notice the red marks on your skin, and these will become itchier over time.
While they will be grouped together on your arms, hands and neck, you can experience bed bug bites on any piece of skin that is exposed overnight.
Get Rid Of Bedbugs
Thankfully, removing bed bugs from your home can be relatively straightforward. You should put some simple practises into place, and you will notice a significant improvement.
As bed bugs could be hiding in your bed sheets and upholstery, be sure to clean every piece of bedding, curtains, linens and clothing in hot water and dry them in the highest settings.
When the bedding has been stripped from the bed, you can vacuum the surrounding area and the mattress itself. This will suck up any bed bug eggs, larvae, eggshells, shed skin, and the bed bugs themselves. You can further this by using a stiff brush on the mattress to bring out bugs and eggs deep within the material. If you vacuum regularly, this will help prevent bugs from nesting in the material.
Since it is unlikely you will get all the bed bugs out from this method, you should encase the mattress and box springs with a woven bag to trap bugs within and stop new bed bugs from entering.
If they cannot feed on your blood, they are expected to die in under a year, so you are cutting off their food source.
Be sure to repair and replaster any parts of the wall and loose wallpaper that could act as bed bug hiding places. These infested areas will suddenly become blocked, and they cannot feed for long periods.
These steps are a great first measure in controlling bed bug population and bed bug infestations. However, you will benefit from hiring a professional pest control company and exterminator to deal with the problem.
They have years of experience and can use stronger treatments, chemicals and insecticides to deal with the bed bug infestation. If you can prevent bed bugs from coming back into your home in the long term, you will experience more comfort and ease.
If you require assistance at your home, please contact our team today, who can help eliminate bed bugs and bring peace back to your life.