Don't let the bed bugs bite...

Does anyone else remember Mom saying that (see title) to you at night?  When I was hearing this saying as a child, I had no idea that it was a real critter who could chew on us.  What do bed bugs look like?

What are signs of bed bug infestation?  Look at the folds of mattresses and sheets and search for rusty-brown (old blood) spots where the bugs have feasted on a sleeping person.  If you see any bug shells where the bed bugs have molted and left behind the old shells, suspect bed bugs. The bed bugs themselves are reddish-brown in color, have no wings and range from 1 mm to 7 mm (compare to the size of Lincoln’s head on a penny) in size.  More information about bed bugs can be found at CDC website:  http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/bedbugs/faqs.html

Several years ago our travel agent was helping us make arrangements for a trip to a major city in North Eastern USA.  She felt we should become educated on bed bugs.  Now I’ve never seen a bed bug and don’t want to see or experience them. We bought the bed bug luggage repellant and sprayed our luggage with it.  When we arrive at our destination (whether hotel, resort or ship), I always pull up the sheets and look at the mattress folds for the tell-tale reddish-brown spots and bug shells.  Then I move my luggage into our room. 

For information about identifying and treating bed bug infestations, go to http://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/

Bed bugs--another ancient critter that bugs us

I remember hearing Mom & Dad talk about the Mississippi River flood during the 1930s that affected the Charleston—Dogwood area of Missouri.  The flood refugee families camped out at the Dogwood Methodist church.  Some of the local families took in refugee families and their hitch-hiker bed bugs.  In those days, bed bugs were a problem.  Mom & Dad remembered when the insecticide DDT was developed and eradicated bed bugs in America.  

Well, bed bugs are back.  Many speculate that bed bugs have returned to America by hitchhiking on the belongings and luggage of travelers from other countries. If you never travel or have company come stay at your home, you probably won’t need to know about bed bugs.  Everyone else should become educated on this pest.  They are not discriminating hitch hikers; they go wherever they can be transported in people’s luggage and clothing.  Bed bugs have been found in 5 star hotels so the quality and cleanliness of a hotel isn’t relevant. 

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small parasite bugs that feed on the blood of humans and animal while they sleep.  When asked whether bed bugs spread disease, the experts at CDC say probably not.  But bed bugs cause annoying, itchy bites.  Some people will not react to bed bug bites; other people will deal with severe anaphylactic (allergic) reactions which could be life threatening to those people. Next time I will discuss identifying and treating for bed bugs.

Protect yourself and family from ancient critters who bug us

Ancient critters that bug us include mosquitos and ticks.  Today we will look at recommended safe ways to using insect repellents according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

1.      Follow the insect repellent label to properly apply repellents to exposed skin or clothing.  Don’t apply repellent under clothes. 

2.      Do not apply the insect repellent over wounds, cuts or irritated skin.

3.      Do not apply (or spray) insect repellent onto the face, especially eyes and mouth. A safer way to apply to the face is spray it onto your hands and then apply to face (avoiding eyes and mouth).

4.      Apply the repellent for children by applying it to your hands and then gently rubbing it onto the child’s skin. Avoid the child’s eyes and mouth. You should avoid getting it on the child’s hands. Do not let children play with insect repellent containers.

5.      Apply the insect repellent in a light (not heavy) coat. If the first light coat doesn’t repel, add another light coat of insect repellent.

6.      When going back indoors, wash the repellent off treated skin with soap and water or bathe.  Launder clothes before you wear them again. (Check the product label about clothes laundering.)

7.      If anyone using the insect repellent develops a rash or itching, wash the repellent off with soap and water, stop applying the repellent product and call your local poison center. Take the repellent product with you for any doctor visits pertaining to the rash, itching reaction. 

This information can be found at the CDC website:  http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/repellentupdates.htm

Another ancient critter who bugs us --ticks

Ticks are another ancient critter that bug us. When I have been bitten by ticks, I find the bite area becomes a sore which itches and heals very slowly. Weeks later I am still dealing with that slowly healing, itchy sore spot. I have become very watchful for ticks on myself and my husband.  I don’t want to be a meal for some tick. And even worse than that, ticks carry diseases like Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. I discussed these two illnesses and how to protect yourself on my blog April 16-18, 2012 so I will refer you to those posts. 

Mosquitos also carry malaria

I recently talked about malaria (August 11 and 13) because it’s an old disease that still causes illness in many parts of the world. However, the CDC records an average of 1500 cases of malaria in America every year. Malaria is carried by the Anopheles mosquito (a different breed mosquito from the Culex which carries West Nile virus). 

We have drugs which travelers can take to prevent malaria. Information about these drugs can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/drugs.html However, we don’t routinely take anti-malarial drugs while at home in the USA. So how do we protect ourselves from mosquito bites and malaria?  The same prevention techniques for West Nile Virus will protect us from malaria:  mosquito repellents such as DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus or IR3535 which the CDC recommends on our skin. If you want to wear repellent on your clothing, an insect repellent containing permethrin is recommended.  Other prevention methods include wearing long sleeves and long pants while outside, and avoiding being outside when the mosquitos are most likely feeding (between dusk and dawn).  Next time I will share safe ways to use insect repellents. 

More about West Nile virus

The Culex mosquitos can carry West Nile virus. With no vaccines or medications to treat West Nile virus, our best protection is prevention. 

How can we protect our families from West Nile Virus?  The CDC gives these suggestions:  avoid mosquito bites. Make ourselves unattractive by using mosquito repellant when we go outdoors, wear long sleeves and pants, especially between dusk and dawn when the Culex mosquito likes to feed.  Stay inside and use your air conditioning.  If no air conditioning, replace window and door screens to keep mosquitos outside.  One last suggestion:  get rid of standing water such as flower pots, buckets, etc where mosquitoes can breed.  http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm

What type of mosquito repellent do the experts recommend?  The CDC staff suggests mosquito repellents which contain DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus or IR3535 on our skin.  If you want to use repellents on your clothing, permethrin is the suggested chemical for clothing, shoes, etc.  For precautions about using insect repellents safely, see the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm

Ancient critters who bug us--mosquitos

Mosquitos ---West Nile Virus

A July 28, 2012 article in our local newspaper spread the news.  The hot, dry summertime weather we are dealing with this year provides excellent breeding grounds for the sneaky, small Culex mosquito and its disease, West Nile virus (WNV).  The Midwest states are reporting increased numbers of infected Culex mosquitoes.  This means an increased risk for people being bitten and developing West Nile disease.  As of August 2, 2012, 42 states reported infections of West Nile, with 241 people confirmed ill.

West Nile disease was first recognized in 1937 in Uganda, Africa.  This virus has been carried around the world by migrating birds.   More information can be found at CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2012/p0801_west_nile.html

Symptoms of WNV:  most people (80%) who contract WNV will not feel bad. Some who get the illness will have mild symptoms such as “fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph nodes or a skin rash on chest, stomach and back.”  Symptoms may last for a few days or it may last for several weeks.  One in 150 people who catch WNV will become really ill with severe symptoms of “high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.  These symptoms may last weeks and neurological symptoms may become permanent.”  This information can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/wnv_factSheet.htm