Q What can you tell me about bed bugs? I heard lots of news last year, but are they still a problem and what do I look for? — R.J., Clemson
A Last summer and fall the national news carried numerous stories about bed bugs. Bed bugs may seem new, but they have been around for centuries and were much more common before World War II. The older you are the more likely you have heard people say, when they wish someone goodnight, "don't let the bed bugs bite." The use of DDT pesticides had almost eradicated bed bugs, but DDT was banned because of its environmental toxicity. Last year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a joint statement on bed bugs, how to identify if you have them and how to rid them from your home or business.
The CDC and EPA are not sure exactly why there has been an increase in the incidence of bed bugs, but suspect that it's a combination of factors: increases in international and domestic travel, resistance of bed bugs to the pesticides used to control them and a general lack of knowledge by the public about bed bugs.
Adult bed bugs are reddish brown, oval and flat. They hide in cracks and crevices of beds, box springs, headboards and frames. They can also be found in the seams of couches and chairs, between cushions or even in curtains. They feed on blood every five to ten days.
Bed bugs do not transmit and spread diseases according to the National Institutes of Health. That does not mean that they cause us no trouble. Bed bug bites may appear red, with a darker spot in the middle and are itchy. The face, neck, arms and hands are the most likely sites bitten.
People have varying degrees of allergic reactions to the bites. Some people have no reaction, while others may have more significant skin or systemic reactions to the bites. You can develop secondary skin infections from the bites, so you need to treat bites with antiseptic skin cleanser and apply a hydrocortisone skin cream to reduce the itching. If you develop a skin infection (redness, swelling, hot to touch), be sure to see a doctor. In addition, some people become anxious, nervous or uncomfortable for fear of being bitten.
The EPA and CDC have a list of what to do if you think you have bed bugs:
1. Don't panic. Make sure you really have bed bugs and not fleas or ticks or other insects. Check your mattress and box springs for signs of the pest: blood stains on your sheets, rusty spots of bed bug excrement on sheets or mattresses, shed skins of the bugs, or offensive musty odor. A pest control company or your local extension agent may be able to help you.
2. Use an integrated pest management system to reduce and rid the bed bug population in your home. You should consult a professional, and can contact the State Pesticide Agency for resources. Don't try low temperatures (freezing) or high temperatures to kill the bed bugs; it is better to use a professional.
3. Reduce the number of hiding places by cleaning up the clutter around the home.
4. Wash in hot water and heat dry your bed lines frequently. Make sure that you clean your laundry containers regularly as well. The bugs can hide in them.
5. Vacuum thoroughly helps to reduce the number of bed bugs. Vacuum around the rugs, floor, under and around the bed. You may also vacuum your upholstered furniture. Be sure to remove the vacuum bag, place in a tied plastic bag, and put it in an outside garage can.
6. Don't give away furniture that has bed bugs. You should be careful when purchasing secondhand items as well.
7. When staying in hotels, check the mattress seams, place your luggage on racks or tables rather than the floor. Bed bugs tend to be more common in places that have high turnover in occupancy such as hotels, dormitories, homeless shelters and military barracks.
8. Consider tightly woven, zippered mattress covers for the mattress and box springs. This can keep the bed bugs from entering or escaping. You will need to leave the cover on for a year, because the bugs can live a year without feeding.
9. Before replacing your mattress, make sure that you have the home rid of the bed bugs or they will infect your new mattress set.
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