Bed bugs have earned quite a reputation over the last two decades. When these insects get into Connecticut homes, they torment residents with numerous bites. The worst part is that they come out at night to bite people. There is something more than a little bit unsettling about having insects feed on your blood while you're sleeping. This can lead to many sleepless nights and symptoms associated with sleep deprivation, but is that the extent of it? Do you only have to worry about losing some sleep? Let's take a look.
The Anatomy Of A Bug Bite
When a bug bites you, what concerns may you have? There are many Connecticut bugs that can bite you, and there are many ways a bug bite can impact your health. How do bed bugs measure up?
Pain. When a bug bites you, it can hurt. Bed bugs don't hurt you when they bite you. They inject an anticoagulant into the wound so that they can draw your blood without causing discomfort. This is why they can feed on you while you're sleeping.
Venom. When a bug bites you, it may inject venom. The results of venom vary from flu-like symptoms to necrosis. Bed bugs don't have venom.
Allergies. When a bug bites you, you can have a reaction to the saliva of the bug. Most of the time, this will result in a raised, itchy wound.
Infection. If bug bites are particularly itchy, you can scratch them until they become open wounds. These wounds can become infected if they aren't properly treated. This is sometimes the case with bed bug bites.
Anaphylaxis. When you have an allergic reaction to the saliva of a bug, it can go beyond an itchy wound. Have you heard of someone dying from a bee sting? This happens when there is an anaphylactic response to bee venom. It can happen with wasps, fire ants, and other venomous creatures. It can also occur when there is a reaction to insect saliva, though this is not quite as common. The risk of anaphylaxis with bed bugs is not adequately documented. As of this writing, we can't give you any solid figures or statistics. The best we can do is warn you of the potential for a threat.
Diseases. When a bug bites you, it is possible to contract a disease such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, bubonic plague, West Nile virus, malaria, and the list goes on and on and on. Not all bugs carry every disease. A bug must have the ability to contract that disease and transfer it from its gut to its salivary glands. While bed bugs are known to be able to transmit disease that can impact human health, there are currently no documented cases of bed bug-to-human disease transmission. Once again, all we can say is that you should be aware that they're able to spread disease.
The Real Danger Bed Bugs Present
It is no fun to have a bug bite you. It is even less fun to have a bug bite you while you're sleeping. When you consider the fact that each bed bug is likely to feed three times in a night, you may be immediately thankful that they don't measure up to other bugs. It isn't painful when they bite you, their bites are likely to only be itchy wounds, and you're not likely to contract a disease. But, having any bug bite you numerous times is not a good thing. Ongoing bite events can lead to anemia, a condition where you don't have adequate red blood cells to carry oxygen to your body tissue. The initial symptoms of anemia may be mild. You may feel weak and dizzy and you may have a headache. If you start to notice that you have a fast heartbeat (tachycardia), a sore tongue, restlessness, or a ringing in your ears, you should seek medical attention.
When Bed Bugs Aren't Dangerous At All
It is impossible to fully prevent bed bugs from getting into your Connecticut home. These are hitchhiking pests that can enter your home at any time—on anyone. If you're concerned about the potential threats we've mentioned in this article, you should know that you can keep bed bugs from presenting any danger to you by quickly responding to an infestation with an appropriate response. Don't try to tackle bed bug control on your own. Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to get rid of. It is best to contact a trusted pest control expert to address a bed bug infestation.
If you live in Connecticut, reach out to Big Blue Bug Solutions for effective bed bug control. We use the latest data on bed bug remediation and apply industry-leading control solutions to get rid of these pests. You don't have to live with bed bugs. Get relief today.
