Discovering that you have bedbugs in your home can be embarrassing and worrisome. It is an invasive thing to discover and knowing that there are bugs growing in somewhere as personal as your bed can be emotionally traumatizing – but there is no reason to feel any shame, shock or embarrassment.
Bed bugs are becoming much more common in homes. They are easily spread by human integration and are distributed across the entire United States. You do not need to feel ashamed or embarrassed if you or a loved one have these bugs. They are not a sign of an unclean home or a reflection of your character.
Do continue to sleep in your bedroom after identifying a bed bug infestation. If you move rooms or start sleeping on the couch you run the risk of contaminating these other areas of your home. Similarly, avoid taking your bedding from the location of the infestation to other rooms of your home.
Bed bugs are not something to be overly scared of, nor is it the end of the world if you find them in your home. True, they are difficult pests to deal with. But they are manageable. It isn't an impossible job to eliminate them from your home, and they don't transmit diseases when they bite.
Background. In some individuals, psychological sequelae resulting from bed bug biting events include nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance (to keep the bugs away), insomnia, anxiety, avoidance behaviors, and personal dysfunction. These symptoms are suggestive of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
One of the frequently asked questions is: “when can I be sure the bed bugs are gone?” After three weeks of professional treatment, if you don't notice any signs of infestation like bites, live bugs, fecal matter or casts skins, then it is likely that the bed bug infestation has been controlled.
But in fact, it might not be a joke. Research is starting to show that bed bug infections can leave people with anxiety, depression, and paranoia. And that's normal. In fact, it would be weird for you not to be freaked out, says Stéphane Perron, a doctor and researcher at the University of Montreal.
Because bed bug bites affect everyone differently, some people may have no reaction and will not develop bite marks or any other visible signs of being bitten. Other people may be allergic to the bed bugs and can react adversely to the bites.
Bed bugs are one of the most disliked pests in homes because of the disruption and damages they can cause to a home. Most would complain experiencing recurring bed bug presence after a short while and substantial time, effort and investment is required to get rid of bed bugs effectively.
Although bed bugs are nocturnal and prefer to bite their host when they are asleep, they are not limited to biting their host at night. They've been known to bite people while awake during the day as long as the opportunity presents itself.
Place any contaminated items in a plastic bag. Use a laundromat that has industrial washers and dryers with high heat settings to kill any bugs that might be in your clothing. For smaller, delicate items, you can actually place them in a freezer to kill any bugs.
Don't sleep on another bed or the sofa. Bed bugs may follow making it much more difficult to get rid of them. Don't try to kill bed bugs by using agricultural or garden pesticides or other unregistered products. Using pesticide products to kill bed bugs that are labeled for outdoor use can make humans very sick.
Background: In some individuals, psychological sequelae resulting from bed bug biting events include nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance (to keep the bugs away), insomnia, anxiety, avoidance behaviors, and personal dysfunction. These symptoms are suggestive of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Bed bugs are not picky and will feed off of almost anyone. They could be affecting one person because that might be the person they arrived into your home with.
While you technically don't “catch” bed bugs from other people, they are easy to pick up, especially in highly-trafficked locations. When visiting places with a higher rate of overnight guests such as airports, hotels and hospitals, it's important to protect yourself any way you can.
While unproven scientifically, it seems they may be more attracted to women than men for the purpose of feeding. Some scientists suggest it is because men are hairier and bed bugs cannot easily walk or feed on hairy skin. Smooth skin is easier for bed bugs to penetrate and bite.
It is believed that the resurgence of bedbugs is caused by the banning of pescides, such as DDT. Bed bugs have become resistant to common pescides, so spraying bug spray is not going to keep them away. It is also believed that the resurgence of bed bugs is caused by the ease of internaonal travel.
Bedbugs are small, reddish-brown blood-sucking, wingless insects. Bedbug bites usually clear up without treatment in a week or two. Bedbugs aren't known to spread disease, but they can cause an allergic reaction or a severe skin reaction in some people.
Bed bugs can live for as long as 4.5 months or more in an empty house before completely dying off. The two primary factors that determine how quickly or slowly the bed bugs could die off are the existence of a blood meal host, and the temperature of the house.
Those individuals who are not sensitive to bed bug bites may not know they have an infestation. Because bed bugs are nocturnally active, it's hard to see other signs of their presence—unless you're accustomed to waking up at 3 A.M. and taking a census.
Diatomaceous earth is a powder made from fossilized algae. The powder is what pests like cockroaches, bed bugs, and ants fear the most.
If a friend stays overnight somewhere on their way to your home for the holidays, they could bring bed bugs to your home. If a friend has a bed bug infestation and they don't realize it, they can bring bed bugs over to your house, even during the day.
Sleep in long-sleeved clothing
Lower your risk of getting bedbug bites by wearing long-sleeved pajamas with pants while sleeping. But be mindful that bedbugs can find their way to your skin under loose clothing. So wear pajamas that are more fitted around your ankles and wrists to give you the best protection.