http://www.wechealthunit.org daily 1 2007-04-24T15:15:17Z http://www.wechealthunit.org/diseases-conditions/glossary/bedbugs What are bed bugs? Bed bugs are wingless, red­brown, oval­shaped insects that feed off the blood of humans, but they will also bite other mammals and birds. They grow to about 7 mm in length and can live from 4 to 12 months. A female bed bug lays between 200 to 400 eggs during her lifespan, depending on temperature and food supply. The eggs are oval­shaped, about the size of the head of a pin, and are found in clusters of 10 to 50 eggs. The eggs hatch in about 10 days. Bed bugs feed at night, but during the day they hide in cracks and crevices of furniture such as nightstands and dressers, and in the seams and holes of mattresses. Adult bed bugs are flat as paper until they have a blood meal. After feeding they become bloated and turn dark red. Do bed bugs carry disease? There is no evidence to suggest that bed bugs carry disease that is harmful to humans. Bed bugs are not like fleas and lice and do not hop from person­to­person. How will I know if I have been bitten by a bed bug? Most people will have no symptoms of bed bug bites. Others will develop a welt or skin swelling that is itchy. The welt is often mistaken for a mosquito or fleabite. Fleabites however are usually found on the ankles. Bed bugs will bite any skin that is exposed when sleeping, such as the chest, arms, legs, neck, face, and hands. Bed bug infestations may go unnoticed for a long period of time and can become quite large before they are discovered. What is the treatment for bed bug bites? Your healthcare provider may prescribe creams or lotions to help with itching and to prevent infection. How can you tell if you have bed bugs? Bed bugs leave their waste (excrement) behind. The dried excrement looks like small dark stains near mattress seams. Bed bugs and their eggs may also be visible in this area. The best way to tell is to have a professional pest control service inspect your home. How do you get rid of bed bugs? You should remove any unnecessary clutter from your home, wash all bedding daily in hot water and place it in a hot dryer for 20 minutes. Vacuum your mattress with a narrow nozzle, especially along the seams and make sure to discard the vacuum bag immediately after vacuuming. Bed bugs can be very difficult to get rid of because they can live for up to 6 months without a blood meal. It is best to consult a professional pest control management service to eliminate bed bugs. Download Fact Sheet: Bed Bugs Resources: Toronto Health Unit (2004, September). Bedbugs. Retrieved September 27, 2005 from http://www.toronto.ca/health/bedbugs.htm University of Kentucky (2004, June). Bedbugs. Retrieved September 27, 2005 from http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/entfacts/struct/ef636.htm No publisher Mike Bed Bugs 2007-06-21T19:05:08Z Glossary definition http://www.wechealthunit.org/diseases-conditions/fact-sheets/bed-20bugs_2005.pdf This is a fact sheet that contains information on Bed Bugs. No publisher mjanisse 2006-09-12T21:16:28Z File