Bed Bug Symptoms & Treatment: Your Questions Answered

Many people presume that bed bugs live in a dirty and unhygienic environment. However, the reality is that bed bugs can be found even in the cleanest of homes. That’s because they can thrive in cold and humid weather alike. In this article, we are going to answer commonly asked questions regarding bed bugs — symptoms of infestation, bed bug treatment, and control measure.

Question 1: How Do You Get Bed Bugs?

Most people wonder where do bed bugs come from.

Bed bugs are parasitic insects that travel from one place to another by clinging on to animals, humans, pieces of clothing or furniture. They are prolific breeders and multiply rapidly in any environment. You can get them via second-hand clothing, furniture, items from a garage sale, luggage of your guests, etc.

Also read: Bed Bugs and How You Can Get Rid Of Them

Question 2: Do Bed Bugs Carry Diseases?

Bed bugs are not known to cause any diseases. Numerous studies have shown that if bed bugs feed on people suffering from diseases, they do not carry the disease and infect the next person they feed on. However, bed bugs can cause skin rashes, allergy symptoms and psychological issues such as being hesitant to sleep, a constant feeling of a bug crawling on one’s skin, etc.

Question 3: Is there a Simple Bed Bug Bites Treatment?

Here is a simple treatment for bed bug bites:

• Wash the area with soap and water
• Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the affected area. Let it dry completely and then wash off after an hour
• Use lemon juice to control the itch
• Oral antihistamines can help control the allergic reactions

Question 4: How Do I Know If There Is A Bed Bug infestation In My House?

Bed bugs usually love to hide under the bedding, behind loose wallpaper, in wooden furniture, wall cracks, etc. Since bed bugs are somewhat nocturnal, you may not be able to spot them during the day when they are hiding. They only come out to feed at night even though they are not exclusively nocturnal.

Here are a few clear indicators of bed bug infestation:

• Adult Bed Bugs: The eggs and nymphs of bedbugs are not easily visible to the naked eye since the eggs are small and the nymphs are translucent. However, adult bedbugs are light brown or reddish brown in color and can be seen if someone looks closely.
• Bed Bug Bites: One of the easiest ways to spot a bed bug infestation is skin rashes or red welts on the skin. Most bed bugs feed on exposed body parts only. So, if you wake up with bite marks, chances are high your bedroom is infested with bedbugs.
• Skin: Juvenile bugs, nymphs, shed their skin up to 6 times before they become adults. You will be able to see these skins on your bed, mattress or other areas. Blood spots on the sheets also indicate the presence of bed bugs.
• Droppings: If you can find black to brown mounds on non-porous surfaces and stains on porous surfaces, it indicates the presence of bed bugs.

 Question 5: How to Kill Bed Bugs?

Bedbugs impact the quality of your sleep since the bites can cause itching on the skin resulting in disturbed sleep. The psychological effect of having bed bugs in your surroundings can also impact the quality of your life. Even though bed bugs are not known to cause serious diseases, it is still important to carry out a bed bug treatment at your home promptly.

Here are some simple bed bug remedies:

• Vacuuming each and every corner of the house including your furniture, carpets, etc. can help suck up all the bed bugs, nymphs and eggs. Make sure to remove bed sheet and vacuum it as well. Empty the vacuum bag and dispose it outside.
• Wash your bed sheets, pillow cases, mattress cover, draperies, etc. in hot water. Bed bugs cannot survive temperatures above 46° Make sure to change bedsheets as often as once a week until you get rid of bed bugs.
• Vacuuming your mattress and upholstered furniture may not remove all bed bugs living deep inside them. Use steam cleaning to kill all the annoying creatures hiding underneath mattresses and sofas.
• You can use a home-made bed bug spray made with 15 drops of peppermint oil and lavender oil each in 100 ml of water. Keep spraying this daily on the infested areas of your home until the signs of the presence of bed bugs disappear. This is one of the oldest home remedies for bed bugs and used in different parts of the world.

Some companies also make bed bug repellents that you buy and use until you get rid of these parasitic insects. Vacuuming your home thoroughly at least once a week and washing linen in hot water along with regular use of a bed bug spray can help you get rid of these annoying creatures.

If you feel your house is infested bed bugs, then all you need to do is book bed bug service from Urban Company and get rid of bed bugs. Our trained professionals will inspect your house and accordingly take action to make your home bed bug free.