Bed bugs gross us all out. It’s not by chance that we have the saying “don’t let the bedbugs bite. Sucking our blood while we sleep is certainly bad enough, but it doesn’t stop there.
Bed bug poop is also full of histamines which can cause allergic reactions. According to one study, histamine studies were over 20 times higher in houses with bedbug infestations than houses without them. “Histamine levels in bed bug infested homes were remarkably high (mean = 54.6±18.9 μg/100 mg of sieved household dust) and significantly higher than in control homes not infested with bed bugs (mean < 2.5±1.9 μg/100 mg of sieved household dust). ”
Simply put, if you have a bed bug infestation, you are much more likely to experience allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, running nose, sneezing, and coughing. You can find more about just how bad a bed bug infestation can be on your health here.
Unfortunately, this won’t go away until you are able to remove the infestation and clean the infected areas.
Before we discuss how to get rid of bedbug infestations, let’s discuss how to keep them out in the first place. This can be easier said than done.
Check the places you stay for infestations
One of the key differences between bed bugs and other common household pests such as ants or roaches is that often times we bring bed bugs into our homes. You might stay at a hotel with an infestation and some of the bed bugs catch a ride back in your suitcase. Once you are home, the bed bugs will make themselves nice and comfy in your bed. Since bed bugs can produce several generations in a year, it doesn’t take them long to spread.
The basic idea is to spend a couple of second checking the bed for bed bug infestations. Lift up the sheets and see if there are any bed bugs or possible bloodstains from previous bites. Especially look in the crevices of the mattress. It is also important to look in between the top mattress and the box mattress as this is a common hiding place.
Second, make sure that your luggage doesn’t contain any bedbugs when you pack to go home. Also, be careful about leaving your clothes on the bed or on the floor where a bed bug might be able to hitch a ride. You can find more information on how to identify bed bugs and avoid bringing them into your house here: Bed bugs: Be Aware. The key is to be careful of the places you visit/sleep outside or your home by checking the bedding and places you store your luggage so you don’t bring home any unwanted hitchhikers.
Getting rid of infestations
Bed bugs can be difficult to get rid of. They may inhabit several areas in your home and are often found in hard in places like mattresses that aren’t quite so easy to treat. What’s worse, is that if you leave behind just a few bed bugs, the infestation will be back in short time. Remember that they can produce several generations of offspring in a single year.
If you think you might have bed bugs, contact a professional pest controller right away. The longer you wait, the longer the bed bugs have to increase in number. It also allows more time for them to produce allergy causing poop.
If you are located in Placer or Nevada County, give us a call at (530) 878-8786 and we can help you diagnose the problem and discuss the possible solutions.