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Bed bugs are America’s worst enemy.
Unfortunately, it seems like they’re not going away any time soon. The American Academy of Dermatology just released a statement saying that the rate of bedbug infestations has been steadily increasing.
It’s probably in your best interest to read up on them.
Where can you find bedbugs? Unfortunately, not just in beds. Bedbugs can get into basically anything, anywhere. Not just beds, but taxis, public transportation, doctors’ offices, and retail stores.
There’s been a measurable increase of infestations, even in just the past two years. In 2013, 46 percent of nursing homes had been treated for bed bugs. In 2015, that number is now up to 58 percent.
In offices, that number has gone from 36 percent in 2013 to 45 percent in 2015.
They may just sound like statistics, but that’s a dramatic increase over the past two years.
Why such a big increase? One professor of dermatology, Dr. Theodore Rosen, attributes it to our elimination of DDT in the 1970s. Not only that, but we started using pesticides specifically for cockroaches. Unfortunately, cockroaches are great at killing bed bugs.
The other factors? Increased air travel, popularity of reused furniture, and bed bugs’ resistance to pesticides.
So, what do you need to know about them?
What they do: They can’t fly, and they’re not really poisonous. Many people bit by bed bugs don’t even react to their first bed bug bite. However, after a few bites, it’s more likely that you’ll develop an allergic reaction, which means you’ll get a rash.
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When/where to look for them: though people think they’re not nocturnal, the only thing that really matters to them is warmth. This means you’re much more likely to experience bed bug problems during the summer.
Of course, this is when they feed. If they’re dormant, they’re likely to hide in clothes. They’re more likely to live in urban areas, but they’re in all 50 states.
How to avoid them: Check any new environment that you’ll be sleeping in/sitting on for long periods of time for bugs. They like corners, so check those first. If you find them, no matter where it is, just call a professional. Home remedies are fallible.
Good luck! Those little guys are awful, but it’s easier when you’re prepared.
