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Bed Bug Bites Best Timing

by Thomas Proctor

How to treat bed beg infestations: first, you must learn what you dealing with such as the signs and symptoms of bed bug bites. Bed bugs are a commonly known pest that can be difficult to eliminate. This is due to the fact that bed bug infestations are often not detected until they have reached great numbers.

Bedbugs prefer the dark and will generally avoid sunlight. Their main feeding is in the early hours of the morning just before sunrise while most people are still asleep. Their bites are normally not felt when they occur, but will show up after several hours. Initial signs of bedbug bits are usually an aggravating itch triggered by the body's allergic response to the bite.

The diagnosis of bed bug bites isn't easily made either. In general, they are manifested as elevated reddish areas or as flatter, welt-type spots that closely resemble mosquito bites. When you have many bites that are reoccurring, it is an accurate indicator of /"bed bug bites"/. Since the bed bug's saliva includes an anticoagulant that facilitates feeding off your blood, you might observe distinctive drops of blood on your bed sheets.

Once you know for sure that these are the types of bugs you are dealing with, you can begin to treat the problem. This can be difficult. Despite what is commonly believed, these bugs are not due to a messy house, unlike cockroaches. These kinds of bugs are attracted to warm blooded animals, like humans, due to the carbon dioxide that warm blooded animals release. They are not attracted to your garbage. The treatment of this infestation is a multiple step project.

Because these bugs are often resistant to pesticides, dealing with the problem yourself is usually the best course of action. Ideally, you would replace your bed altogether and clean the surrounding areas with rubbing alcohol. Obviously, this is not practical for everyone. Begin by vacuuming the mattress and box spring, and then wipe your bed frame with rubbing alcohol. Next, get a steam cleaner and use it to thoroughly clean the mattress and box spring. This should eradicate their eggs.

Once you've done this, eliminate any stray adult bugs you might see. If possible, buy neem oil. This is very effective in eliminating the bugs. Finally, as an added precaution, buy impermeable covers for both the bed and box spring. This should eventually take care of any others that may have been left behind.

The best treatment is to avoid it. The majority of people pick them up during their stays at motels, hotels or while staying at a friend's house. If you are moving into a new residence, you should carefully inspect the home for signs of dead or living bugs. Keep in mind once you have them they are extremely hard to get rid of.

The first step for treating bed bug bites is knowing what you are dealing with. You need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of bed bugs. These pests are common and it can be hard to get rid of them. One reason for this is that they are oftentimes not detected until they have reach large numbers. All things considered, the best way to deal with these bugs is to keep them out of your home to begin with. If you run into troubles, use a search engine for terms like "how to treat bed bug infestation".

Published November 7th, 2008

Filed in Diseases And Conditions