Bed Bugs (cont.)
How are bed bug bites treated?
Typically, no treatment is required for bed bug bites. If itching is severe, steroid creams or oral antihistamines may be used for symptom relief. Secondary bacterial infections that develop over heavily scratched areas may require the use of antibiotics.
How do I detect a bed bug infestation in my home?
You can look to see if you can identify the fecal stains, egg cases, and exuviae
(shed skins) in crevices and cracks on or near beds. You should also look at
other areas such as under wallpaper, behind picture frames, in couches and other
furniture, in bed springs and under mattresses, and even in articles of
clothing. While fecal stains and skin casts suggest that bed bugs have been
present, these do not confirm that the infestation is still active. Observing
the bed bugs themselves is definitive confirmation that your home is infested. You may require professional assistance from a pest-control company in determining whether your home contains bed bugs.
How do I get rid of bed bugs in the home?
Getting rid of bed bugs is not an easy process, and most cases of bed bug infestation will require treatment
by a pest-control expert. A variety of low-odor sprays, dusts, and aerosol insecticides can be used to eradicate bed bugs. These must be applied to all areas where the bugs are observed as well as spaces where they
may crawl or hide. The pest-control company can help you determine if the
mattress can be disinfected or must be discarded. Since beds cannot readily be
treated with insecticides, it's often necessary to discard infested mattresses
and beds.
The pest-control expert may recommend certain forms of deep-cleaning such as scrubbing infested surfaces with a stiff brush to remove eggs, dismantling bed frames and furniture, filling cracks in floors, walls, and moldings, encasing mattresses within special bags, or using a powerful vacuum on cracks and crevices.
Next: How can I prevent bed bug bites? »
- Rash - Learn about rash causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Common skin rashes include poison ivy, hives, shingles, eczema, contact dermatitis, ringworm, psoriasis and impetigo.
- Itching - Learn the causes and treatments for itching (itch). Dry skin, fungus, sunburn and bites may cause itching. Excessive scratching may lead to thickened skin (lichenification).
- Spider Bites (Including Black Widow and Brown Recluse) - Learn about spider bites symptoms including the black widow and brown recluse spiders. Picture of the black widow and brown recluse spider is included in the information.
Latest Medical News
Skin RSS