BED BUGS
If you are waking up and feeling itchy, bed bugs may be the problem.
If this occurs it’s important to deal with the problem quickly and effectively, as they can breed and spread quickly. There are two key signs to look out for: bites and spotting.
Bed bugs tend to target a person’s hands, shoulders, legs, and neck, while fleas tend to bite around the ankles.
Spotting is identified as small black dots grouped in corners of furniture, under the wooden slats of a bed, or on the edge of a mattress. Additionally, blood spots may be visible on sheets or pillowcases. Infestations can be recognised by a heavy amount of spotting, which, in more extreme cases, can also be joined with eggs and moulted skins of the bugs. In any of these situations, it is crucial to treat the area as soon as possible.
Many people pick up bed bugs in their luggage when they are travelling. You can also bring them into your home in second-hand furniture, bedding, or clothing.
Bed bugs are small insects that feed on the blood of sleeping people and animals at night. During the day, they hide in dry, dark places.
The bites of bed bugs are not usually a health hazard, but they can be irritating. Scratching at them can cause infection.
SYMPTOMS
- Some people have no reaction and do not even develop bite marks.
- Most people get a series of itchy bites, like mosquito or sandfly bites. These may not show up until a few days after you have been bitten.
- Some people are allergic to bed bugs’ saliva. This means they may get painful swelling or enlarged bite marks.
- In exceedingly rare cases, people can have a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This is a medical emergency, and you should dial 111 immediately.
TREATMENT
- The best thing to do is avoid scratching.
- If you have a mild allergic reaction, use an antihistamine.
- In the rare event of an anaphylactic reaction, dial 111 immediately.
BED BUGS
If you are waking up and feeling itchy, bed bugs may be the problem.
If this occurs it’s important to deal with the problem quickly and effectively, as they can breed and spread quickly. There are two key signs to look out for: bites and spotting.
Bed bugs tend to target a person’s hands, shoulders, legs, and neck, while fleas tend to bite around the ankles.
Spotting is identified as small black dots grouped in corners of furniture, under the wooden slats of a bed, or on the edge of a mattress. Additionally, blood spots may be visible on sheets or pillowcases. Infestations can be recognised by a heavy amount of spotting, which, in more extreme cases, can also be joined with eggs and moulted skins of the bugs. In any of these situations, it is crucial to treat the area as soon as possible.
Many people pick up bed bugs in their luggage when they are travelling. You can also bring them into your home in second-hand furniture, bedding, or clothing.
Bed bugs are small insects that feed on the blood of sleeping people and animals at night. During the day, they hide in dry, dark places.
The bites of bed bugs are not usually a health hazard, but they can be irritating. Scratching at them can cause infection.
SYMPTOMS
- Some people have no reaction and do not even develop bite marks.
- Most people get a series of itchy bites, like mosquito or sandfly bites. These may not show up until a few days after you have been bitten.
- Some people are allergic to bed bugs’ saliva. This means they may get painful swelling or enlarged bite marks.
- In exceedingly rare cases, people can have a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This is a medical emergency, and you should dial 111 immediately.
TREATMENT
- The best thing to do is avoid scratching.
- If you have a mild allergic reaction, use an antihistamine.
- In the rare event of an anaphylactic reaction, dial 111 immediately.
Getting rid of bed bugs
You can remove bed bugs from linen and clothing by washing and drying at high temperatures (a laundromat service is ideal as most residential washing and drying machines do not reach the required temperature – please advise the laundromat of the situation to prevent spread and ensure all items are bagged and sealed).
It is extremely important to figure out where the infestation is, as they often hide in furniture and walls.
If you think you may have bed bugs, have a look in and around your bed. Bed bugs hide in dry, dark places, such as mattress seams, headboards and bed frames, furniture, drapes, and cracks in walls and floors.
You may find live bugs, cast-off skins, eggs, or faecal stains (small dark brown or black marks).
Check other bedrooms in the house, too: bed bugs cannot fly, but they can crawl short distances.
Once you have found the infestation book a treatment with your local pest management expert.
Take note: If treatment doesn’t take place soon, the numbers can escalate out of control very quickly.
We recommend placing Bud Lock covers on your bed base and mattress post treatment to prevent future infestations.
Getting rid of bed bugs
You can remove bed bugs from linen and clothing by washing and drying at high temperatures (a laundromat service is ideal as most residential washing and drying machines do not reach the required temperature – please advise the laundromat of the situation to prevent spread and ensure all items are bagged and sealed).
It is extremely important to figure out where the infestation is, as they often hide in furniture and walls.
If you think you may have bed bugs, have a look in and around your bed. Bed bugs hide in dry, dark places, such as mattress seams, headboards and bed frames, furniture, drapes, and cracks in walls and floors.
You may find live bugs, cast-off skins, eggs, or faecal stains (small dark brown or black marks).
Check other bedrooms in the house, too: bed bugs cannot fly, but they can crawl short distances.
Once you have found the infestation book a treatment with your local pest management expert.
Take note: If treatment doesn’t take place soon, the numbers can escalate out of control very quickly.
We recommend placing Bud Lock covers on your bed base and mattress post treatment to prevent future infestations.