Bedbugs and Their Health Risks

WHAT ARE BEDBUGS?

They’re tiny bugs, sometimes referred to as public health pests, who are more annoying than harmful in most cases. While bedbugs don’t carry diseases, they can still negatively affect your health, both physical and mental. They can also cause economic issues as well, in that once they’ve infested your home and furniture, you’ll need to spend money exterminating them. You’ll also need to replace the majority of your furniture, clothing and other belongings that may have been infected. Operations that have high turnover rates regarding occupancies are at high risk of getting bedbugs. This includes apartment complexes, dormitories, hotels, homeless shelters, trains and buses, ships and more.

CAUSES

Bedbug infestations can be linked to frequent international travel, changes in pest control procedures around residential, commercial or hospitality spaces, or insecticide resistance. But where are the most common places for them to hide? In mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards and any objects near the bed area. They can also be found under peeling paint or wallpaper, under carpeting, in the seams of upholstered furniture, or under electrical outlet and light switch panels. They travel from one surface to another, on clothing, though luggage, in furniture and bedding or in boxes. What makes them so dangerous in highly populated areas is their ability to move quickly between floor levels and rooms in apartments buildings and hotels.

SYMPTOMS

Reactions from bedbug bites vary from person to person, ranging from mild irritation to hives to severe anaphylaxis if the person has an allergy. Once bitten, you’ll notice that the site of the bite will be itchy, red (darker towards the middle) and spread out in a line or clustered together. Bite marks are usually located on the neck, face, arms and/or hands. Untreated bedbug bites can lead to skin infections like ecthyma, lymphangitis and impetigo, which is why it’s important to visit your doctor if you suspect you’ve been bitten by bedbugs. However, the effects of a bedbug infestation aren’t only physical. Mental health issues like anxiety and insomnia can occur from individuals living in a home that’s currently infested.

PREVENTION

To prevent bedbugs from biting you, it’s best to cover any exposed skin while sleeping, use bug repellents made to keep mosquitos away (highly effective against bedbugs) and look into installing mosquito netting around your bed.

To prevent an infestation throughout your entire home, avoid buying used bedding and upholstered furniture. Or if it’s your only option, inspect it carefully before purchasing it to ensure that it’s free of pests. If you’re staying in a hotel, check the seams of the mattress and avoid leaving your luggage on the floor. This will help to ensure you don’t bring anything home with you.

TREATMENTS

Except for moving out completely or living with the pest infestation, it’s highly recommended that you hire a professional extermination team to get rid of your bedbug problem. However, if you’re determined to try and get rid of them yourself, here are two methods you could try. If you live in a cold climate, freezing temperatures can kill bedbugs, but this will take several days. For clothing and linens, washing and drying items on high settings will kill bedbugshttps://gilpinspestcontrol.com/bed-bugs/. But where does that leave the rest of your belongings?

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Gilpin’s Pest Control will permanently solve your pest problem for one year, guaranteed. Our family-owned business services the entire Lower Mainland in rodent, bedbug, bird or ant pest control removal. Fully equipt with eco-friendly methods, call us today for a free quote.