Discovering that your home is infested with bed bugs may leave you feeling surprised and bewildered but even more surprising is the fact that many homeowners are unaware that even after bed bugs have been eradicated they can still leave behind a chemical that can make you and your family members sick. According to researchers bed bugs excrete histamines, a chemical that is known to cause allergies and other immune disorders. Studies indicate that homes that have been previously treated for bed bugs have histamine levels up to 20 times higher than homes that have never experienced a bed bug outbreak. Bed bugs excrete histamines to communicate such as to indicate they are ready to mate or to warn other bed bugs of danger. Unfortunately for homeowners these secretions can become trapped in furniture and fabric when bed bugs defecate. The knowledgeable experts at A-Tex Pest Management recommend contacting your local carpet cleaning specialist to perform a deep clean on your carpets, rugs, upholstery, and mattresses to remove histamines from your home once your bed bug eradication service has been completed.
How Histamines Affect Allergy Sufferers
If you suffer with allergies you are probably already familiar with histamines and how miserable they can make you feel. The human body produces histamines to protect itself from attack but unfortunately for those of us who are prone to allergies, our bodies overproduce histamines which result in a variety of unpleasant respiratory issues including runny nose, constricted airway and inflammation. For many allergy suffers the symptoms don’t just stop at respiratory issues, other allergic reactions include skin rashes and itchy watery eyes with symptoms escalating when the individual is exposed to allergens excreted by bed bugs.
How to Identify Bed Bugs
Mature bed bugs are less than 1/4 inches long and are similar in size to an apple seed. They range in color from brown to reddish brown although after a blood meal their appearance will change to bright red. Immature bed bugs are harder to spot although they can still be seen with the naked eye. Eggs are much more difficult to see as they are so small, white in color and found in clusters. Examine your headboard, bedside tables, mattress seams, baseboards and other furniture items for signs of bed bugs such as bed bug shells or skins, fecal spots and blood stains on sheets or night clothes.
How to Treat Bed Bug Bites
If you suspect you have a bed bug infestation in your home and you have numerous bites with blisters or any other signs of infection or allergic reaction seek the advice of your health care professional. The recommended treatment for treating bed bug bites at home includes washing the affected area with soap and water to prevent skin infections along with reducing the amount of itching associated with the bite. If the itchiness persists apply an over the counter corticosteroid ointment to the bites.
Bed Bug Inspections, Treatment, Control, Removal & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park, Texas
Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to get rid of and will require a multifaceted approach to ensure that they are fully eradicated from your home. Your A-Tex Pest Management professional will perform a thorough inspection of your property to identify and determine the best treatment method to eradicate bed bugs from your home or business. Once the treatment has been completed, arrange for a professional carpet cleaning service to deep clean your carpets and furnishings to remove the allergy causing excretions left behind by bed bugs. To learn more about visual bed bug inspections and treatment protocols, contact your knowledgeable A-Tex Pest Control professional today.