Don’t let the bed bugs bite!

Bedbugs, like fleas or mosquitoes, survive on blood. They are small, reddish brown, and oval shaped. They usually aren’t visible during the day because they hide in dark places and tend to bite people when they’re sleeping. This is because they’re attracted to your body heat and the carbon dioxide produced when you exhale.

Bedbugs like to hide in:

• mattresses
• bed frames
• box springs
• carpets

The home, hotels and hospitals are places that often have bedbugs roaming within and around the beds and other furniture.

READ: Healthy living – The 7 golden rules of proper bed hygiene

Bedbug bite symptoms

Bedbug bites are small and have a dark red spot in the middle of a raised area of the skin. They may appear in a cluster or in a line, and they often get worse if you scratch them. Bedbugs tend to bite on the upper half of the body, including the:

• face
• neck
• arms
• hands

Some people may have a serious reaction to bedbug bites. The affected area may swell or become irritated, resulting in a blister. You may even develop hives or a more severe rash.

A 2012 study in Clinical Microbiology Reviews suggests that although 40 pathogens have been found in bedbugs, they don’t appear to cause or transmit any diseases.

Bedbug bites usually go away after a week or two. You should contact your doctor if:

• the bites don’t go away after a few weeks
• you develop a secondary infection from scratching the bites
• you experience signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives

You can use a topical steroid to treat bedbug bites on the skin. If you have an allergic reaction, it may be necessary to take oral antihistamines or steroids. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic in the case of an infection.

READ: 5 common bug bites on pets

Getting rid of bedbugs

If you believe the bedbug bites occurred in your home, you need to treat your living space. To remove bedbugs, you should:

• Vacuum and clean your floors and furniture.
• Launder your bed linens and other upholstery. Use a hot washer and dryer to kill the bugs.
• Take things out of your room and set them in below-freezing temperatures for several days.
• Hire a pest control service to treat your living space.
• Remove infested items from your home permanently.

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