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Bed Bugs » Pest Control Articles » How to get treated if bitten by bedbugs
How to get treated if bitten by bedbugs
The undying breed of little insects known as bed bugs is ubiquitously found in homes and hotels - strangely even in some posh star hotels. Scientifically known by the name Cimex Lectularius and commonly referred to as nocturnal parasites, bed bugs are reddish-brown, oval-shaped tiny wingless crawlers that survive sucking blood from a living being predominantly humans.
Bed bugs are so called because they hide mostly in the crevices of mattresses and at times in the cracks in wooden upholstered furniture. Bed bugs are active at nights and have a natural tendency to bite people while they are asleep.
Bed bugs bite human skin that is bare and leave behind small, red, itchy skin patches. Many believe that bedbug bites do not need any specific treatment and the untreated itchy skin patches will vanish on their own. But, it is also reported that that bedbug bites can be effectively treated with topical emollients or corticosteroids. You can also take an oral antihistamine.
Maintaining proper hygiene and cleanliness is one way of reducing bed bug menace. Bed covers should be changed often and floors especially those carpeted have to be vacuumed at regular intervals. Spray any special insecticide into the crevices of mattresses to kill these unwanted visitors.
The only consolation is bedbugs, unlike mosquitoes, are not carriers of any diseases. They more create physical discomfort and spoil one's sleep particularly during nights. The worst bed bug bites are those that inflame and produce blisters leading to small loss of skin tissue.
Therefore, people bitten by bedbugs need not be overly obsessed about contracting any hazardous disease. The symptoms are limited mainly confined to inflammation and itching. Washing the bitten area immediately with soap water is an effective way to treat bedbug bites. Various anti-itch creams are also available in drugstores, if soap water wash does not provide the expected results.
You can sometimes aggravate the bedbug bite by persistently scratching the affected area and this could result in infection. If the itchiness is unbearable, it is advisable to apply an icepack to prevent inflammation. The pain caused by bedbug bites is in most instances bearable and in extreme cases, if the pain is too severe, you can use a prescribed pain-killing medication.
During earlier times, bed bugs were exterminated by spraying pesticides like DDT. But since intemperate use of DDT could cause health problems for the humans, they were banned. It was then concluded that bedbugs are incapable of total annihilation and they will continue to appear and - whatever pesticides you may choose to spray.
The present day pesticides available in the market are more in the nature of repellants and even the pesticides that destroy are more focused on creatures like cockroaches and not effective against bedbugs. Pest-control experts generally use a wide array of aerosols, low-odor sprays or dusts to get rid of bedbugs.
But, the heartening news is that certain pesticides companies have developed some advanced pest control technology to totally and permanently eradicate the bedbug menace in a cost-effective and environment- friendly manner without endangering human health. When dealing with such companies make sure that they are fully bonded, insured, certified and licensed by the appropriate authorities.
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