Do Bed Bug Infestations Pose Any Health Risks?
Bed bugs are tiny enough to go unnoticed, and they do not cause structural damage inside the house as termites do. But these pests can cause some harmful effects on you and your family’s health if an infestation is ignored. It is necessary to take the right precautions if you’ve noticed that they are already harming your home.
How To Identify Bed Bug Bites
You will know that you have a bed bug infestation in your home because these household pests leave rusty or reddish stains on bed sheets and mattresses. These are small dark spots that look like markers. And those spots are usually stains of bed bugs’ droppings.
The bites are often pain-free at first, but they will later become itchy. As for identifying these bites, you should look out for the following:
- Burning pain—like a prickling sensation
- A red bump that is raised with a dark border and clear center
- Skin lesions surrounded by small red bumps/hives
- Groups or lines of three or more bites
Note that they usually go for the part of your skin that is exposed during sleep, so start checking your arms and legs first.
Health Concerns Related To Bed Bugs
Bed bug infestations can be a nuisance to most people but not usually a health risk. Whenever there are hosts nearby, they make sure that they feed on the host’s blood to nourish themselves, which can cause a few health concerns.
Anemia
Repeated bed bug bites may result in chronic blood loss and iron deficiency anemia if not checked. The anemia exhibited by patients who suffered an infestation in their homes is usually almost certainly due to ongoing blood loss caused by continuous bites.
Allergic Reactions
Different people have different reactions when bitten by insects or pests, and bed bug bites can cause varying degrees of allergic reactions.
People suffering from severe allergic reactions from a bed bug infestation and the resulting bites can end up with itchy bumps on the infected area, which should not be ignored. Seeking medical help as soon as possible is the first step you need to take if you or your family member is suffering a potential allergic reaction.
Infections
Bites from bed bugs rarely lead to infections. Even though it can happen, it is unlikely. Once these pests bite a person, scratching allows pathogens and germs to enter the wound. Keep track of bed bug bites and make sure that they don’t turn into secondary infections.
Anxiety And Insomnia
Your overall physical health is not the only thing that can be strained by bed bug infestations. They can have an impact on someone’s mental health, leading to anxiety and insomnia. The discomfort that the bites can cause is not necessarily painful, but it cannot be very pleasant when you’re trying to have a good night’s sleep. And the thought of having to go through all the bites again can take its toll on anybody.
Social Repercussions
The stigma attached to bed bug infestations may also impede your social life. People may not want to come back to your house because of pests. Being around bed bugs might make you less likely to go out. They can live in clothes, so it’s one way to spread them to your family and friends, which can cause numerous problems.
Your best defense is to call pest control specialists so they can inspect your home and get rid of the infestation before it gets worse.
You should also do some preventive measures to prevent them from coming back. Look over your entire bed each time you are changing your bedding since these pests can go unnoticed for an extended period. Wash your clothes immediately after traveling and dry them on the highest temperature setting to ensure that you didn’t bring any bed bugs or their eggs home.
Do You Have a Bed Bug Infestation?
If you think you have bed bugs or are interested in a home heat sanitation treatment, contact Bed Bug Barbeque, LLC in Lakewood, Ohio! We use heat treatment to eradicate bed bugs and we offer entire home sanitation heat treatments. We promise effective treatment as well as discretion. This safe, effective treatment is completed in less than 12 hours, and Bed Bug Barbeque, LLC offers a 60-day warranty for you to verify for yourself that your bed bugs are fully eradicated. Contact Bed Bug Barbeque, LLC today for a FREE quote at (216) 221-1227 or through our website, and check out our other bed bug informational resources on identification, prevention, and eradication.
