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For many people, the suspicion of bed bugs in the home is an anxiety-ridden experience. These people fear that a hidden infestation exists, or is growing, and that they will never be rid of the problem. These are the people who frantically call multiple pest control companies, health departments, and K-9 inspection companies. Some of these people are sold products or services they dont need and end-up disappointed, misled, and out substantial sums of money.

The truth is, anyone can determine if they have a bed bug problem. Sometimes it takes awhile, but rest assured, the bugs will make themselves known. We tell people that if we could remove all the emotion and anxiety around the bed bug issue, they would be better prepared to make informed decisions.

With all the media attention on bed bugs these days, its only natural for people to assume that their problem is bed bugs. The truth is there are lots of potential causes of lesions that appear as bites on people. When we work with clients, our first job is to determine what the problem is. Theres are many signs to look out for to determine whether bed bugs are the culprit.

There are lots of possible culprits that may cause lesions or blood stains. People bleed for many of reasonsincluding shaving, acne, re-opening of a wound, bloody noses, etc. Lesions that appear as a bite marks may be caused by (and can be confused with) rashes, scabies, or allergic reactions to medications or detergents.

The prevalence of scabies has increased in recent years. Scabies is a condition caused by a tiny and usually not directly visible parasitemite which burrows under the hosts skin, causing intense allergic itching. The itching of scabies often feels similar to the moderate or severe reaction to a mosquito bite. The symptoms are usually experienced as being worse at night, possibly because there are fewer distractions. Often the itch is also made worse by warmth, such as when bathing in warm water. Itching is a less common symptom among elderly sufferers of scabies.

In most hosts, the trails of the burrowing mites show as linear or S-shaped tracks in the skin, often accompanied by what appear as rows of small pimple-like mosquito, or insect bites. These signs are often found in crevices of the body, such as on the webs of fingers and toes, around the genital area, and under the breasts of women. Relatively thin-skinned areas of the body, such as the inner wrists and buttocks, are also preferentially infected. The mites avoid areas of skin with calluses, or thick hair. Thus, the face and scalp are rarely affected in adults. Infants infected with the parasites, however, may haveblisters and pustules on their palms and soles of their feet. Infants also may have infection of the scalp.

The onset of symptoms typically appears two to six weeks after infestation for individuals never before exposed to scabies. For those who have been previously exposed, the symptoms can appear within several days after infestation. However, it is not unknown for symptoms to appear after several months or years.

Scabies is contagious. It can be spread by scratching an infected area, thereby picking up the mites under the fingernails, or through physical contact with a scabies-infected person for a prolonged period of time. Scabies is usually transmitted by direct skin-to-skin physical contact. It can also be spread through contact with other objectssuch as clothing, bedding, furniture, or surfaces that a person infected with scabies might have come in contact wit but that is not the most common way of transmission. Scabies mites can survive without a human host for twenty-four to thirty-six hours. As with lice, scabies can be transmitted through sexual intercourse even if a condomis used, because it is transmitted from skin-to-skin at sites other than sex organs.

Dust mitesfeed on flakes of shed human skin and flourish in the stable environment of dwellings. House dust mites are a common cause of asthmaand allergic symptoms worldwide. The mites gut contains potent digestive enzymes that persist in their feces and are major inducers of allergic reactions such as wheezing. The mites exoskeleton can also contribute to allergic reactions.

The body of a house dust mite is just visible against a dark background in normal light. A typical house dust mite measures 0.4millimeters in length and .25.32 millimeters in width. Both male and female adult house dust mites are creamy blue and have a rectangular shape. House dust mites have eight legs (except for in the first stage of development, known as the first instar, which has only three pairs of legs).

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Bed Bug Symptoms and Other Possible Culprits | Boston Bed Bug ...