Bed bugs are a real menace. A bed bug infestation can have real physical and psychological impacts on those living in the affected spaces. If you have discovered that your home or property has bed bugs, it is essential to get rid of them as soon as possible to limit the damage they can cause, especially if you live in a multi-unit building.
The Effects of Bed Bug Infestation
A bed bug infestation can create a host of negative consequences, both physical and psychological. The longer a person experiences such an infestation, the more severe the resulting symptoms can become. Bed bugs can be difficult to eliminate, so fast action is key.
Physical Effects
The first symptoms of a bed bug infestation often occur when you wake up with small, red bite marks on your skin. These bites can be irritating and itchy on their own, but they also can trigger everything from minor allergic reactions and blisters to anaphylaxis (a severe, systemic reaction that can be life-threatening) in extreme cases. The bites cause skin wounds, which also can lead to secondary skin infections such as impetigo, ecthyma, and lymphangitis.
These are just the most visible, immediate effects. Living with a bed bug infestation also can have negative psychological ramifications.
Psychological Effects
In addition to the physical symptoms, the psychological effects of a bed bug infestation include emotional distress, insomnia, and anxiety — including social anxiety related to how other people will react if they learn you have the dreaded bed bugs. An infestation can destroy the feeling of comfort that most of us associate with crawling into bed. Some people experience hypervigilance and paranoia even after the bed bugs in their home have been exterminated, for fear that they will return.
These psychological effects disrupt a person’s quality of life and create stress, which can manifest in a number of physical ailments in addition to those mentioned above. Loss of sleep can impact one’s immune function and cognitive abilities, and long-term anxiety has been linked to gastrointestinal conditions and heart disease.
Best Method for Bed Bug Removal
Bed bugs are tenacious and reproduce quickly, so if you have them, you need to get rid of them right away. They are especially nasty in a multi-unit building, since the bed bugs can spread from one unit to the others. Even they are exterminated from one unit, if they have spread to other units, the previously exterminated unit could be infested again. To avoid this, you need an effective method for bed bug removal.
An exterminator with experience eliminating bed bugs can evaluate your property and locate all potential hiding places. The best option for bed bug extermination is thermal treatment, in which concentrated heat is applied to the affected areas. The heat kills live bed bugs and their eggs, so the infestation is stopped in its tracks. The thermal treatment is non-chemical and non-toxic, so you do not have to worry that it will have negative side effects for your family or pets. Your exterminator also can give you tips on ways to avoid future infestations.
End Your Bed Bug Infestation
Don’t sleep on your bed bug problem! If you have bed bugs, or are a property owner whose San Diego-area tenants have reported bed bugs, contact Adios Pest Control immediately. We can assess the situation and execute a plan to end the infestation right away so you can sleep easy again.