bedbugs or bed bugs are small insects that live by sucking blood. These animals usually hide around the bed, and come out at night to bite and suck blood while a person is sleeping.
Bed bugs are flat and brown insects. These insects are attracted to body heat and carbon dioxide gas released by humans.
Bed bugs can be eradicated by washing nightclothes and bed sheets in hot water, or by covering the mattress with a tight-fitting wrapper for at least one year. However, to get more effective results, it is recommended to use the services of a professional insect exterminator.
Symptoms and Signs of Bed Bugs
The existence of bed bugs is sometimes not realized, because these insects only come out to suck blood at night. After sucking blood for a few minutes, the bed bug will return to its hiding place.
Bed bug bites (bedbug bites) is the appearance of red welts on the skin, which feel itchy or like burning. In people who are bitten by bed bugs for the first time, itching will not be felt immediately. Sometimes it even takes days for itching to appear. The itching will be felt more quickly the more often this animal is bitten.
The presence of bed bugs can also be detected in the bed, namely in the form of:
- Blood marks on the bed
- Black stains from bed bug droppings
- There is a distinctive smell (musty smell) in the flea hiding place
When to go to the doctor
Check with your doctor if you have a serious reaction to bed bug bites, such as severe itching, swelling and redness of the bite mark, or blisters at the tick bite area.
Bed bug bites can injure the skin, especially if the area of the bite is scratched. The injured skin can be entered by bacteria, which can trigger skin infections such as cellulitis. Immediately see a doctor if the following symptoms appear:
- Pain that radiates from bed bug bites.
- Swelling and redness at the bite mark.
- Skin that feels warm to the touch.
- Fever and chills.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Discharge or pus from the bite mark.
Causes of Bed Bugs
These insect bites occur when someone accidentally brings bed bugs into bed. This is because bed bugs are able to crawl through clothing or other objects and then hide around the mattress.
Bed bugs come out at night to suck blood and hide during the day. In addition to around the bed, bed bugs often hide in several places, such as:
- Apartment
- boarding house
- Student dormitory
- Clothes
- Carpet
- Curtain
- Pillow
- Things around the bed
- The space behind the light switch
- Cracks or cracks in furniture
Bed bugs are more commonly found in places where many people live, such as:
- Hospital
- Lodging
- Refugee place
- Apartment
- Student dormitory
- Means of transportation
Bed Bug Diagnosis
If you suspect that you have been bitten by bed bugs, immediately check your bed and home for the presence of these insects. It may be necessary to check at night when bed bugs are active. Blood spots or small black stains from bed bug droppings may be found on the mattress.
If you are in doubt whether the red welts on the skin are bed bug bites or not, consult a doctor immediately. Through a physical examination, the doctor can determine whether the red welts are caused by bed bug bites or another condition, such as hives or chickenpox.
Mattress Lice Treatment
Bed bug bites usually go away on their own within two weeks. Don't scratch the bite even if it's itchy, as this can injure the skin and cause infection. If there is an infection to the doctor immediately, the doctor can prescribe antibiotics.
If the itching is unbearable, consult a doctor. Your doctor may give you a hydrocortisone cream to apply to the bitten area of the skin or an antihistamine that you can take, such as diphenhydramine.
How to eradicate and get rid of bed bugs
Once symptoms are treated, bed bugs should be eradicated immediately. Here's how to get rid of bed bugs that can be done independently:
- Wash clothes, curtains, pillowcases, and bed linens in hot water and dry them on high heat. For items that cannot be washed, dry in a hot temperature for 30 minutes.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to remove fleas from the mattress and hiding places. If there are lots of nits on the mattress, dry the mattress in a hot place or replace it with a new mattress.
- Wrap the mattress tightly to prevent fleas from getting out of the mattress. Bed bugs can live up to a year without eating, so don't let them go for at least a year.
- Repair cracks or cracks in walls, floors and furniture, so they don't become hiding places for bed bugs.
If there are enough bed bugs, eradication should use insecticides. However, it is advisable to use the services of a pest exterminator who is used to using harmful chemicals. Be sure to keep yourself, children and pets away during the eradication process.
Complications of Bed Bugs
Bed bug bites can cause an allergic reaction, with symptoms such as painful swelling and intense itching around the bite mark. In some cases, bed bug bites can trigger anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction that can be life-threatening.
The habit of scratching bed bug bites can also lead to serious infections. Emergency treatment should be given if the following symptoms appear after being bitten by bed bugs:
- Nauseous
- Throw up
- Fever
- Shivering
- Dizzy
- Hard to breathe
Mattress Flea Prevention
There are several ways you can protect yourself from bed bug bites, including spraying insect repellent, installing insect repellent coated with the pesticide permethrin, or wearing clothing that covers the skin.
You can also take the following steps to anticipate the appearance of bed bugs in your home:
- Check bedding and sofas in hotel rooms, and place bags or suitcases on the table to prevent bed bugs.
- Clean any bird or bat nests in your home, as bed bugs can hitch a ride on birds or bats to move from one place to another.
Check carefully if buying a used mattress, chair, or sofa before bringing it into your home.