Bed bugs have been feeding on humans for more than 3,300 years and continue to be one of the top pests plaguing homes, hotels, hospitals, attractions and even public transportation today. Due to their ability to stealthily sneak into belongings and travel long distances, bed bugs have earned notoriety as excellent hitchhikers. To make matters worse, bed bugs will readily infest any type of indoor environment, just as long as there is a readily available blood meal. Once inside of a new environment, they can infest many places beyond the bed, such as couches and chairs, inside picture frames and even behind electrical switch plates.
So, how do you get bed bugs in your house or your bed ?
One of the most common places where people may first encounter bed bugs is in a hotel room. Travelers should inspect the place they’re staying for bed bugs as soon as they arrive and alert the staff if bed bugs are suspected.
Another common but lesser-known way people bring home bed bugs is by purchasing second-hand furniture that may already be infested. Be sure to always inspect used couches, mattresses or box springs and other soft goods thoroughly before bringing them inside.
Risk factors for getting bedbugs
Bedbugs can live in any home or public area. But they’re common in places that have a lot of people, a lot of turnover, and close quarters. That’s why you may be at increased risk for encountering bedbugs if you live or work in a:
- Hotel
- Hospital
- Homeless shelter
- Military barrack
- College dorm
- Apartment complex
- Business office
Bedbugs excrete a tiny amount of anesthetic before feeding on people, so you won’t feel it when they bite you. It can sometimes take a few days for symptoms of bedbug bites to develop.
Some people never develop noticeable symptoms from bedbug bites. According to Pest Control Technology, approximately 30 to 60 percent of people never develop a reaction to a bedbug bite. When symptoms do develop, the bites tend to be:
- red and swollen, with a dark spot at the center of each bite (they may also look like a hive or welt)
- arranged in lines or clusters, with multiple bites grouped together
- itchy
- burning
- fluid-filled blisters
- you may also find blood stains on the sheets from scratching
- Scratching bug bites can cause them to bleed or become infected.
If an infestation occurs, call a pest control professional [The Verminator WLL -Pest Control Company in Bahrain] immediately for assistance. Bed bugs can breed and multiply quickly, so the earlier you can combat an infestation, the better.
For more information about how to prevent bed bugs, check out The Verminator WLL for everything you need to know to stay bed bug-free.