Bed bugs
definition
Bed bugs (Latin: Cimex lectularius), also known as house bugs, belong to the flat bug family. Bed bug bites cause typical skin manifestations and symptoms that are referred to as a clinical picture under the term Cimicosis be summarized. Bed bugs set up their habitat in sleeping places for warm-blooded animals. Therefore, the human bed is a popular habitat for the bed bug. There it feeds on blood and lives as a classic parasite.
Causes of bed bugs
Many people wonder what they can do to prevent bed bugs. First of all, it is important to know the causes of the infestation with the unpleasant parasites. Bed bugs become frequently as silent fellow travelers out Hotels, Hostels, Apartments or Long-distance trains brought home with me. There they go unnoticed into the bedroom when they unpack their suitcases and spread out in the bed at home. In theory, one pregnant female is enough to cause extensive bed bug infestation. Should you have stayed in hotels, pensions or sleeping compartments in trains? Insect bites on the body notice that are not clearly from mosquitoes, caution is advised. The potentially infected luggage should not be unpacked near the bed and professional instructions should be followed to find the bed bugs.
Buying used furniture, antiques or clothing also carries a certain risk of spreading bed bugs.Therefore, used objects should always be cleaned professionally before they are allowed to move into your own four walls.
Basically, it is important to understand that Bed bugs have nothing to do with poor hygiene to have. So you don't have to be ashamed of an infestation. It is unclear why the bed bug infestation has also increased massively in German cities in recent years. Researchers suspect that bed bugs are more resistant to pesticides and are therefore more difficult to control. This allows them to spread further.
How can you spot bed bugs?
Bed bugs are very difficult to spot. They are true kings of the game of hide and seek and use every conceivable possibility to disappear from the human field of vision. Sockets, window cracks, bed boxes and even pipes are just a few examples of typical places where bed bugs can be found. The about 1-7mm long Are bloodsuckers yellow to red brown and own one flat oval body. After sucking blood, your body swells up to around 10 mm. The abdomen takes on a dark red to black color. The parasites are light-shy and nocturnal, so they can hardly be found during the day. Bed bugs usually attack people in the early hours of the morning and suck blood for up to 20 minutes. During this time they could be visible. Most of the time, however, bed bugs are only noticed by the symptoms they cause.
Of course, bites on the skin are a sign of bed bugs. However, they often become confused with other insect bites.
Another indication of bed bugs is one Kind of "sweet" smell in the bedroomsecreted by the parasite's glands. Apart from that, small black dots can rarely be found around potential hiding spots for the bed bugs. These are stains from the bedbugs. In most cases, however, the only sign of the infestation is the symptoms.
What do the stitches look like?
The bed bug bites are often confused with other insect bites. However, if you look closely, you can see differences. Bed bug bites are usually in a row. They form so-called "roads", which correspond to the movement of bed bugs on the host. There is a bed bug sting mostly on uncovered parts of the body like arms, feet, shoulders, neck, face or neck.
One is typical severe redness of stitches made by one Itching may be accompanied. The stitch appears as a few millimeters, deep red, punctiform reddening. Around it, the skin can also be colored circularly in a lighter shade of red. Bed bug bites don't have to be in a row, although they are common. You can also find grouped stitches.
Rare however, it is that distributed over the entire body isolated stitches can be found. That speaks rather for another cause. In people who have been living in "bugged" households for a long time, however, a so-called desensitization can occur. The stings are barely noticeable, so that the entire body can be affected.
Concomitant symptoms
itching
Some people react very strongly to a bed bug bite, while others show little reaction. The same applies to the accompanying itching. He is hiring very characteristic symptom for a bed bug infestation, but it is not always present. Most people have itching for more than a week. It does not have to appear immediately after the bites and sometimes shows somewhat delayed. In rare cases, pronounced allergic reactions occur with severe itching, hives (Urticaria) and pronounced skin inflammation.
Rash
Bed bugs cause typical skin changes in those affected. In the early hours of the morning, they stab unclothed areas of the skin and suck themselves full of blood for up to 20 minutes. That leaves its mark. The punctures lead to punctiform, bloody reddening of the skinsurrounded by paler redness of the skin. Since bed bugs migrate on the skin, you can see along their "Hiking trails“Punctures. The result is a line-shaped pattern of the rash. In the case of a pronounced infestation with bed bugs, several skin regions can be affected in parallel.
In some people, bed bug bites solve one Kind of allergic reaction which can cause severe rashes all over the skin. This rash usually shows up in the form of the so-called Hives (Urticaria), which is characterized by small, bright red skin changes. These skin changes are known as wheals. They are slightly raised above the skin level and itchy.
- Hives
- Rash - This is the condition behind it
Treatment and therapy
From a medical point of view, bed bug bites do not necessarily have to be treated. The control of pests in the household is more importantto break the vicious circle. Still, it doesn't hurt to have a doctor examine you. He or she may prescribe medication to help treat the symptoms of bed bug bites. Against the itching help so-called Antihistamines. Furthermore you can cortisone creams can be used to alleviate the symptoms. If there is a pronounced allergic reaction, the doctor will also give antihistamines or corticosteroids. In rare cases, an injection of adrenaline may also be necessary.
Since that Scratching the puncture sites favors the entry of bacteria into the skin, a Infection the possible consequence be. If there are signs of infection, such as fever, pus on the skin, severe swelling or redness, should consulted a doctor immediately become. Treatment with antibiotics may be necessary in this case. Mild infections can already be treated with antiseptic skin ointments. These disinfect the skin and prevent the pathogens from dying off.
Duration
Bed bugs can be stubborn roommates. you are very resistant and can for several months without a meal to survive. Unfortunately, without adequate pest control, the problem will not resolve itself. Households that do not careful fight that carry bed bugs are usually affected by the infestation for several years. Even if bed bugs have been successfully combated, they can always be brought back into your own house from hotels, long-distance trains or campsites.
Further topics from this area
Mites in bed
The house dust mite particularly likes to nestle in bed. In people who suffer from house dust allergies, this can lead to typical allergic symptoms.
Here you get to the topic: Mites in bed
head lice
Constant itchy scalp can be an indication of lice infestation. The uninvited guests can be touched by targeted treatment.
Here you get to the topic: head lice
