According to a new US study bed bug infections are increasing. Bed bugs are nocturnal parasites that have lived off of human blood for thousands of years. They tend to hide a few feet from their prey in places like mattress seams, crevices in bed frames, behind the headboard and loose wallpaper. Since they only come out at night to feed, bed bug bite victims will often awake with itchy, irritated skin at the site of the bites. However, it appears that the evidence for any disease transmission by bed bugs is lacking. As well, the study authors emphasize that the development of effective repellents and public education about bed bugs are important goals.
Read more and share your opinion.
Tags: bed bugs, bite, blood, headboard, infection, mattress
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:16 pm
my apartment was invaded by bed bugs this year. It cost me thousand of dollars to get my apartment back to normal. what ever that means i had to throw everything out and start all over with new furniture. I live in public housing, they came to exterminate three times, but it felt as though they were just feeding them. I did my own work and spend more money until i found a product that really worked. I still clean with alchol and keep an eye out in case they come back. Oh yeah come to find out my apartment complex was infested. But the management did not inform everyone they say that people have to call it in. I tell everyone call it in and do not depend on what they use, find a product that works for you.