Is It Dangerous To Have Bed Bugs In My Charlotte, NC Home?

Anemia

This is another low-probability illness that could develop during a bed bug infestation in your Charlotte home. Bed bugs draw blood when they bite. Ongoing bloodletting can lead to a condition called anemia. While this is a potentially life-threatening sickness, it can be treated. If you notice that you're feeling tired or weak, go to your health care professional. Serious symptoms of anemia include shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, cold feet or hands, jaundice, headache, and chest pain. Keep in mind that this is a sickness that can easily be avoided by having your bed bug infestation treated quickly.

Chagas Disease

Your chances of getting Chagas disease from bed bugs may be zero. But you should be aware of research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. It was found that bed bugs have the ability to carry and transmit Chagas disease. There are, however, no real-world cases of Chagas disease being spread by bed bugs. There are two noteworthy reasons why this may be the case.

• The bed bugs that bite you are your bed bugs. They don't live outside. They are almost exclusively indoor insects. That means you're not going to get Chagas disease unless someone in your home has it or you're bitten by bed bugs that don't live in your home (or used to live in another location, but now live with you).
• Chagas disease is spread when feces from the biting insect enter the bite wounds. This makes it a little more difficult for it to spread. If you wash bed bug bites, you'll reduce the risk even further.

Infection

Bed bug bites can be itchy. If you, or your children, scratch the bites, they can become infected. This can be a medical threat, but you're aware of this. You know to treat cuts and bug bites with antibacterial cream. The only issue with bed bug bites is that there might be many of them. It could be difficult to keep up with continually disinfecting the bite wounds.

Sleep Deprivation

If bed bugs keep you up during the night, it can lead to sleep deprivation. Some symptoms of sleep deprivation are minor. Some are serious. Here are just a few:

Mood changes. These can be minor, such as a quick temper. But they can also be major, such as high anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts.

Cognitive reduction. A minor repercussion of cognitive reduction is the inability to study for a test, which can result in a bad grade. A more serious repercussion is getting into a vehicle accident.

Health risks. Over time, you can develop high blood pressure, gain weight, and increase your risk of type 2 diabetes.

It is likely that you'll have your bed bug infestation treated long before you experience major issues with sleep deprivation, but it is important to understand the risk.

Social Stigma  

Bed bugs don't just represent a physical danger to you. They can be a danger to your social life. When family and friends find out that you have a bed bug infestation, you'll have a hard time planning birthday parties, Super Bowl parties, backyard cookouts, and other important gatherings. This can lead to isolation. It may also create complications for your kids at school. There are still some people who think that bed bugs are only found in dirty homes. While not true in the least bit, the stigma is still there.