The presence of bed bugs has multiple consequences

• Bed bugs have once again become a major urban pest after nearly disappearing for almost 70 years, according to our partner The Conversation.

• Their main medical impacts are related to bites and the associated itching and inflammation… but the emotional and psychological effects of these insects on their victims should not be overlooked.

• This analysis was conducted by Jerome Goddard, professor of biochemistry, molecular biology, entomology and plant pathology at Mississippi State University.

Bedbugs are back in force.

After an absence of about 70 years, due to the action of powerful pesticides such as DDT, they have made their (re)appearance in luxury hotels, spas, department stores, subways, cinemas and, of course, the houses.

I'm a public health entomologist and as part of my job I've studied these little bloodsuckers going so far as to let them feast on my own appendages in the name of science... No one likes dealing with bed bugs – and there are ways to minimize the risk of dealing with them.

Know your enemy...

The common bed bug,

, has been a pest of our species for thousands of years.

Historically, these tiny bloodsuckers were common in human habitations around the world, giving real meaning to the old saying still found in places: "Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite you"...

They had virtually disappeared in developing countries until the mid-1990s – when they began to make a comeback due to resistance, restriction or disappearance of certain pesticides, changes in pest management practices pest control and increased international travel.

In many parts of the world, they are now a major urban pest.

Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown and measure around 5 mm.

They are oval and flattened in shape and look like unfed ticks or small cockroaches.

The young, extremely small, are yellowish-white in color.

Folded under their head, they have a long proboscis (or proboscis): a tubular mouthpart that they can extend to take their blood meal.

A bed bug only needs three to ten minutes to consume up to six times its weight in blood in a single meal.

These insects hide in the cracks and crevices of our homes, preferably those within a few feet of a bed, only coming out to feed on an unsuspecting host.

Then they run back to their hiding place, where they mate and lay eggs.

Homes can be infested with thousands of these bloodthirsty critters.

Mattress and box spring are then often covered with revealing black fecal stains.

In severe cases, there may be thick droppings, hundreds of shedding skins, and eggs several millimeters thick.

​Perhaps their greatest impact is… psychological

Bed bugs have been suspected of transmitting over 40 types of pathogens, but there is little evidence that they transmit human pathogens, with the possible exception of the microorganism that causes Chagas disease.

Extreme infestations can, however, in rare cases, lead to blood loss large enough to cause anemia.

Their main medical impacts are related to bites and associated itching and inflammation.

The most common reactions to these attacks are red, itchy spots at the bite sites that usually disappear within about a week.

Some people may experience complex skin reactions, including hives and blisters, or allergic reactions.

But the emotional and psychological effects of these insects on their victims should not be overlooked.

The encounter with these parasites can cause nervousness, anxiety and insomnia.

Bed bugs often have the side effect of causing constant worry and feelings of shame.

A distressed Canadian put it this way:

To be honest, until you've experienced this an [infestation], you have no idea how awful it is.

It is quite natural to become paranoid;

we lose sleep, we end up dreaming and thinking about bed bugs – they consume every fiber of our being…

A study of people exposed to bedbugs found that about half of them reported sleep disturbances and social isolation related to the infestation.

My coworker and I analyzed 135 Internet posts about bed bug infestations.

The majority of posts, 81%, reported at least three behaviors commonly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder: reactions such as reliving the event with intrusive memories and nightmares, jitters and hypervigilance.

Six messages describe intense and repeated cleaning of the house or office.

Five report persistent avoidance of people, activities, and places that may lead to insect transmission or awaken memories of the initial encounter.

Finally, five messages report suicidal thoughts or attempts.

There are other anecdotal reports of suicides or drug overdoses by people battling bedbugs.

​How to protect yourself

Of course, not all hotel rooms are infested with bed bugs, but some are.

Simple precautions can help protect you from an infestation.

Here are some simple recommendations.

● At the hotel: Leave things you don't need in your vehicle, such as extra clothes, gear and miscellaneous equipment.

When you enter your hotel room, place your luggage in the bathroom until you have had a chance to inspect the premises.

Remove the sheets and check the mattress and box spring for live bed bugs or black fecal stains.

If you find bedbugs or suspicious signs of infestation, go to reception and ask for another room.

Since bed bugs usually don't move around much on their own, other non-adjacent bedrooms may be perfectly pest-free.

● At home: It can be difficult to keep bed bugs out of homes and apartments, especially if you travel a lot.

After a trip, unpack the luggage outside or in the garage, and wash all the clothes they contain in hot water and dry them on high heat if possible.

A clothes dryer is an excellent tool in the fight against bed bugs.

Bedbugs can also enter your home on used furniture or items purchased from thrift stores or garage sales.

Be sure to disinfect them – more specifically, “disinfest” them.

It is advisable never to buy second-hand mattresses or beds, even if it is a bargain.

What if you are forced to confront these bloodsuckers?

A bed bug infestation found in a hotel room should be reported to management immediately.

Our “INSECTS” file

If you find bed bugs in your home, or in second-hand stores, it's best not to try to treat them yourself with over-the-counter pesticides.

I recommend that you contact a competent exterminator, who will treat the space with suitable pesticides or use complex heat systems – or both to get rid of them.

Try not to panic.

Don't forget that these are just insects, nothing evil… Believe me: they can perfectly be killed and eliminated from your home.

Planet

Bugs: This variety lays its (golden) eggs on the backs of its congeners

Planet

Ticks: Human beings would be responsible – but not really guilty – of their proliferation in France

This review was authored by Jerome Goddard, professor of biochemistry, molecular biology, entomology, and plant pathology at Mississippi State University.

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