subject: Is Your Home Safe From Bed Bugs? [print this page] Is Your Home Safe From Bed Bugs? Is Your Home Safe From Bed Bugs?
If you think that having bed bugs in your home is a thing of the past, then you must think again! Even the best hotels can find themselves infested. Also, your bed can have many bugs hiding away inside it, either in the mattress or hiding in and around the bed frame.
Bed bugs are small leeches which suck the blood of any warm blooded animal - this includes humans. They usually search for blood at night. They used to feed on bats and birds, but they have evolved due to changes in their environment, and now survive by sucking human blood. They are generally found in warmer parts of the country.
Although the blood sucking sounds unpleasant, this particular type of parasite doesn't carry any form of disease, unlike other parasites like the mosquito. The most a bed bug can do is to make the skin itch and swell.
Bed bugs have two small tubes - one delivers a type of anesthetic, which is why you generally don't feel the bite when it happens. The blood is sucked through the other tube. After a period of time, the skin becomes swollen, red and itchy. This itching can be unpleasant, and lasts longer than threat of a mosquito bite. Don't be tempted to scratch the bump as this can make it become infected, and it will get worse. The lumps will get better if you just leave them alone.
To help heal the bites more quickly, you can wash the area with antibacterial soap. You can also get cream from the pharmacy which will reduce the itching. However, this is a short term remedy, and you really must get rid of the bugs from your home.
To get rid of them, you must clean the bedroom area thoroughly, paying particular attention to the bed, mattress and bed frame. Get rid of anything like clothes and newspapers which may be lurking under the bed.
If you spend the night somewhere else, like a hotel, make sure you don't bring them home with you in your baggage and clothing. If you have brought them home, you may smell a sweet fragrance - this is produced by glands of the bed bug.
One way to try to stop being bitten and infested is to use an insect repellant at night. However, you must still make sure that your home is free from bed bugs, as they multiply quickly, and once you've got them, they're difficult to get rid of. If you do find you've got them in your home, then it may be a good idea to employ a pest control firm who will spray your home with an effective formula which should get rid of these parasites for a long time.
