Bedbugs can cause people to lose sleep — and blood. Here’s what to do about them
Bedbugs Can Cause People to Lose Sleep and Blood: What to Do
Bharatmorningnews.com – Bedbugs can cause people to lose sleep—and sometimes more than that. These tiny bloodsuckers hide in plain sight, emerging at night to feed while their hosts remain unaware. For centuries, the warning “Sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite” has echoed through generations, and today it carries renewed significance.
Infestations are climbing, particularly during summer months. Scientists are also investigating whether these pests might carry MRSA, a bacteria resistant to many antibiotics. Understanding how to identify and manage an infestation has never been more important.
When Bedbugs Make Headlines
These persistent pests have caused public concern across multiple continents. In 2018, New York City pulled at least six buses from service after passengers reported bugs crawling on seats. Paris faced similar disruptions in 2023, with reports from movie theaters, trains, and buses ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games.
“They certainly are out there,” said Christopher Hayes, an assistant professor at North Carolina State University who has received more than fifty bites during his research. “If you’re not on top of your game, it’s easy to bring them into your home.”
What You Need to Know About Bedbugs
Measuring about the size of an apple seed, these reddish-brown insects hide in narrow furniture gaps, clothing, bedding, and mattresses. Their dark excrement stains serve as telltale signs of their presence. While they can trouble homes year-round, they thrive during warmer months.
At night, they crawl onto sleeping people and use a beak-like mouthpart to pierce skin and extract blood over several minutes. The bite itself causes no pain. Some people develop itchy red welts within a day or two, while others show no reaction at all.
This lack of immediate response creates a hidden problem. People who don’t realize they are being bitten repeatedly can quickly become victims of a full-scale infestation.
Medical Concerns and Research
A 2020 French medical journal documented a striking case of a seventy-year-old man living alone who collapsed on a Paris street. Hospitalized with dementia and anemia from chronic blood loss, doctors also discovered bedbugs feeding on his neck, head, and shoulders. An apartment investigation revealed thousands of creatures in his bed and scattered across floors, walls, and curtains.
There remains no definitive proof that bedbugs transmit diseases between people. According to Chow-Yang Lee, an entomologist at the University of California at Riverside, the bugs’ digestive system and physical structure appear to prevent efficient germ transfer.
However, researchers at the University of South Dakota published findings in 2023 from an experiment using blood capsules covered with artificial skin. The study showed bedbugs could acquire MRSA during one feeding and subsequently spread it during another.
“Follow-up research is needed to really prove bedbugs actually are spreading MRSA to people,” explained Jose Pietri, one of the study’s authors who now works at Purdue University. “But it changes the perspective of what bedbugs do, in terms of public health.”
Why These Pests Returned
Developed nations saw bedbug populations plummet after World War II thanks to widespread DDT pesticide application. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prohibited the chemical for most purposes in 1972, citing evidence of harm to wildlife and potential risks to humans.
By that time, bedbugs had already begun developing resistance to DDT. Lee observes that insecticide resistance has fueled a continued resurgence over recent decades, making these pests stronger and more prevalent.
Quantifying exactly how much more common they have become remains challenging. Pest control firms publish annual rankings of American cities with the worst infestations, but these lists rely on call volumes rather than comprehensive surveys.
Lee pointed out in an email that many infestations occur in low-income or public housing, which might not employ the larger companies that generate those rankings.
Prevention Is Key
Experts agree the best approach is prevention—keeping bedbugs out entirely. Regularly inspect secondhand furniture, wash bedding in hot water, and vacuum frequently. If you suspect an infestation, act quickly before the problem spreads to other rooms or neighboring units.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can bedbugs transmit diseases to humans? Currently, there is no definitive proof that bedbugs transmit diseases between people, though research on MRSA transmission is ongoing.
How can I tell if I have bedbugs? Look for small dark stains (excrement), shed skins, and live bugs in mattress seams, furniture gaps, and behind wallpaper.
When are bedbug infestations most common? While they can occur year-round, infestations typically flourish during warmer months.
What should I do if I find bedbugs? Act quickly by washing bedding in hot water, vacuuming thoroughly, and considering professional pest control services.