The Dangers Of Bed Bugs In Your Charlotte, NC Home

Bed Bug Diseases

When some people think of bed bugs, they get a picture of blood-eating bugs that attach to the skin and spread diseases, like ticks do. If you have this thought in your mind, you should know that bed bugs and ticks are very different. One of the most important differences is that bed bugs have a preference for human blood. Most ticks have a preference for animals. When a tick feeds on an animal, such as a mouse or a rat, it can extract disease-causing organisms. While a bed bug can feed on a mouse or rat, it is rare. If these insects get into your home, they would much rather feed on you.

Another reason ticks can expose you to diseases is that they live in your yard. Bed bugs don't. The insect we call the bed bug is Cimex lectularius. There are no known wild populations of Cimex lectularius in the world. These insects are almost exclusively indoor pests. That means they're not feeding on squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, and other animals that can be reservoirs for diseases.

As of this writing, there are no confirmed cases of bed bug-to-human disease transmission. So you can rest a little easier knowing that bed bugs aren't likely to make you sick from diseases.

Bed Bugs And Sleeplessness

If the thought of "resting a little easier" with bed bugs in your home made you think, "Um, nope!" then this next section is for you. For some, it doesn't matter if bed bugs spread diseases. The fact that they crawl on people while they sleep and leave itchy bites on the skin is enough to incite fear. This can lead to sleeplessness. While bed bugs don't present a medical concern, sleeplessness can. Chronic fatigue can lead to poor motor function and slow cognitive response times. This can make you a danger when you get into your vehicle. It can also lead to anxiety, depression, and even thoughts of suicide. If you have a strong fear of bed bugs, contact a licensed pest professional as soon as possible. Bed bugs can be completely eliminated, and you can have a home that is free of bed bugs again.

Bed Bug Bites

There are some horror stories circulating about bed bug bites being painful welts on the skin. While it is certainly possible to get painful welts, the vast majority of bites are far less severe. Early bites are from immature nymphs, which don't administer as much anticoagulant. It is the allergic reaction to this anticoagulant that causes bites to become inflamed, itchy, and surrounded by a rash. If you deal with a bed bug infestation early, you're much less likely to have painful welts.

If you let bed bugs continue to infest your home, bites can worsen. But, even adult bed bugs can leave bites on your skin that aren't too bad. The problem with bed bug bites isn't that they're painful, it is more that they are numerous. Each bed bug bites more than once—most often three times. If eight bed bugs feed on you, you'll get around 24 bites in one night.

Bed bug bites can be itchy. If you scratch at bites, it can cause them to become open wounds. If these wounds aren't properly treated, they can become infected. This can cause them to be serious. Repeated bloodletting from bed bug bites can cause one more issue. It can lead to a condition called anemia. While rare, it is something to be aware of.