Bedbugs are an invasive scourge that is currently being talked about a lot. But where are they found? Are they harmful to our health? What to do about their bites? The Ministry of Health tells us a little more.
- The bed bug bite is initially painless. Red and swollen skin manifestations appear 1 to 2 hours later.
- Bedbug bites are responsible for skin lesions and sometimes psychological damage given their presence and the very debilitating pruritus (itching).
- Dermatological lesions generally do not require special treatment. They disappear in about ten days.
Current wind of panic. Bedbugs are no longer seen only in apartments or houses, but also in cinemas, on public transport, in hospitals and even hotels. But what do we know about them and what are the consequences on health?
Bedbugs: not just in bedding
THE Ministry of Health As stated, bed bugs are not the sole prerogative of the bedding in our homes. They infiltrate everywhere, even on planes. And cleanliness is not a shield. However, good hygiene and rapid detection of these insects is necessary to avoid “hyper-infestation”.
This tiny insect (a few millimeters) causes a lot of trouble. And as theHANDLES (National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety), it is responsible for a significant health and also economic cost (more than 300 million euros per year).
There thumbtack feeds at night and mainly on human blood. She doesn’t jump or fly. It is difficult for him to move on flat surfaces and metal. On the other hand, it gets on clothes and luggage when traveling. It is especially found in quiet and dark places (bedroom, living room, etc.). Being very small (1 to 2 mm for the youngest and up to 6 mm for adults), it is very barely visible and settles into the smallest corners.
Bedbugs: a painless but very quickly painful bite
The bedbug bite is initially painless. And it is only 1 to 2 hours later that redness and itching appear on parts of the body usually not covered by clothing.
The Ministry of Health, on his website, specifies that the skin reaction depends on the sensitivity of the individual. In fact, some people are unaware that they have been bitten and will not see any trace of a bite. Others will see them but these will disappear within a few hours or days without any treatment. And finally, some individuals will present more or less localized and more or less severe allergic reactions (appearance of painful reddish blisters which can go as far as a generalized reaction such as urticaria).
In the event of itching, it is advisable not to scratch, otherwise the lesions may develop into superinfection, and to consult a doctor who can prescribe suitable medication.
The presence of bedbugs is suspected when:
-the bites visible on the skin are in a row or grouped together;
-small black spots (bugs and their droppings) are found on the mattress, sheets, box spring or walls;
-there are large, long traces of blood on the sheets, which are due to the bedbugs being crushed while the person is sleeping.
Bedbugs: responsible for more or less severe lesions
Bed bugs cause dermatological and allergic lesions (like those described above). But in the event of a significant infestation, they can cause disabling psychological disorders. And in very rare cases, anemia has been described. Bedbugs are not, to date, vectors of any disease.
Treating bedbug bites is much simpler than eradicating these insects. In fact, skin lesions caused by bites disappear in around ten days and do not require special care. Above all, avoid scratching (risk of infection) and clean your skin thoroughly.
The reasons for the increase in bedbug infestations are not very clear. But things like international travel and the emergence of insecticide resistance are likely among the causes. Let us hope that a solution will quickly be found for the total eradication of this insect in places where it is undesirable. Waiting for the Ministry of Health And service-public.fr give us some tips to get rid of them.
