Feasting on Flesh and Blood
June 3rd, 2009 by Penny Hagerman
Have you ever awoken one morning to discover red, itchy bumps on your skin—or a rash you couldn’t explain?
You know they weren’t there the night before; yet red welts now cover your skin, some may even blister, and you have no idea how they got there.
Well, guess what? You may be a victim of bed bugs, those nasty little creatures that sometimes infest our homes, apartments, hotel rooms, hospitals and college dormitories; hiding in mattresses, bedding, under baseboards or loose wallpaper and coming out at night to feast on our flesh and blood.
Nasty, huh?
It sounds worse than it really is. Though transmission of more than 40 human diseases has been attributed to bed bugs, there is little evidence that they transport any communicable disease, says Jerome Goddard, Ph.D., of Mississippi State University, and Richard deShazo, M.D., of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, both of whom recently examined the medical effects of bed bugs on health.
Though in extreme cases, bed bug bites may cause severe skin reactions in some, the body’s usual response is those small red bumps you may have already discovered, which tend to heal on their own without incident.
However, once infestation occurs, eradicating those little nuisances from your home may be harder than you think.
If you suspect you may have bed bugs, don’t let embarrassment get the best of you—and don’t just put up with the little critters. Read our article titled, “Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite,” take steps to protect yourself and your family, and get rid of those nasty things now.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
On my this is incredibly creepy. Not sure if you watch House, but often they look to bugs as a reason for a person getting ill. You just never know until it’s too late.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:56 am
You’re right, Dave, it is creepy! And yes, House is actually one of my favorite shows. I love the way he always has an “ah-ha” moment just before the show ends that helps him solve the case–just in the nick of time to save the person. I’m not sure if they’ve ever dealt with bed bugs on the show, but someone with severe allergies could have quite a time suffering from bites and other skin problems.
I’ve dealt with these things myself, and it takes some desperate measures to kill the little guys off for good. Regardless, it’s not worth risking anyone’s health, so it’s probably best to do whatever it takes to get rid of them.