One of the most notorious parasitic insects that affects human populations worldwide is the bedbug. These tiny blood suckers can spread from one host to another very easily and unnoticed. In the unfortunate circumstance that you come in contact with them, bed bugs can be very difficult and costly to get rid of.
How we come in contact with bed bugs
Bed bugs have been a problem for humans for thousands of years, believed to first come in contact with humans that lived in caves shared with bats. The bats in these caves were hosts to a similar bug which eventually adapted to feed exclusively on human blood. As humans moved from caves into more civilized arrangements, bed bugs were quick to follow.
Bed bugs are regarded as great “hitch hikers” as they transfer from one host to another relatively easily. They usually hide in areas near where we sleep such as night tables or mattresses, hence the name bed bug. We can come in contact with them in so many different places that are shared with other humans who have come in contact with them such as:
- In a hotel or hostel
- In public transportation
- In theatres
- In apartment buildings
Signs and symptoms of having bed bugs
It can be difficult to detect bed bugs because they are great at hiding and mainly come out at night while you are asleep to feed on your blood. Even while they are sucking your blood it is almost impossible to notice because their saliva has a numbing agent in it allowing them to feast on your blood without aggravating you. Nevertheless, there are some obvious signs that you may have a bed bug infestation on your hands, including:
- Tiny red bite marks on your skin when you wake up
- Small blood spots on your bed sheets
- Tiny black fecal matter on your mattress
- Remnants of bed bug exoskeletons that they shed as they enter new life stages
Danger to humans
Although bed bugs are a nuisance to have in your home and have a social stigma surrounding them, they are relatively harmless to our physical health. They can not transmit disease and their bites are rarely even itchy, unless you have some sort of allergic reaction to them of course.
The main danger found with bed bug infestations is the psychological damage that they can inflict on their hosts. Knowing that a parasite is feeding on your blood while you sleep will make for many sleepless nights, which in turn can cause stress, anxiety and depression.
