Bed bugs (pisso) are a common infestation in the majority of households in Karachi, Pakistan. The high infestation rates of Bed bugs in Karachi is influenced by various factors including the natural (warm humid climate) and our lifestyle (not giving due concentration to cleanliness and hygiene).
Potential Health Impacts of Bed Bugs
Fortunately, results from various studies conducted across the world to study harmful bed bugs effects on humans and babies shows that while these blood-sucking parasites look and appear nasty on the surface, they don’t host diseases like cockroaches or mosquitoes. Which mean that there are no life-threatening bed bugs effects on babies or humans. Nonetheless, the bites (which may be painless to adults) can cause irritation and discomfort for babies. And only potentially harmful bed bug effect on babies can be through an allergic reaction which may lead to significant skin reactions.
Bed bugs had interacted humans for centuries and maybe it is a result of this century-old interaction that humans have developed a sort of immunity against bed bug diseases mainly. However, it is not to forget that even after centuries of interaction and advancement of medicines, we still don’t have a comprehensive treatment for bed bugs bites. In fact in Pakistan, bed bug bites are treated similarly to treatment for mosquito bites.
Although for most parts, bed bugs bites can go unnoticed, especially by adults (bed bugs bites are painless), you may be able to notice some tiny blood marks on bed sheets or at times small black dried blood left on the surface of the skin. It is highly recommended to check out for these small blood spots on your child’s skin and bed sheet and take appropriate steps if you find any noticeable indication. This is to say because even while the bites aren’t threatening at first, they can initiate allergic reactions in babies.
Bed Bug Impacts on Humans and Babies
As said earlier, there is no hazardous bed bugs effect on humans or babies. However, few illnesses which can be triggered by bites from bed bugs; especially in babies may include:
Allergic Reaction:
Adults and babies prone to allergies need to be especially careful about bed bug bites. The allergies from bed bug bites may be similar to the allergies caused by bee stings. In case you see a lasting redness on your or the baby’s skin, make sure you seek medical treatment at the foremost.
Infection:
While it is extremely rare for bed bugs bites to lead to an infection, there have been cases nonetheless. Most of the time, the infection is caused by scratching the skin surface that has been bitten by bed bugs; again babies are more prone to such infections.
Insomnia:
Bed bugs are nocturnal parasites, which mean they become active while you sleep. And because of this bed bug infestation in the bed may lead to insomnia as these parasitic creatures fest on your blood at a time when you are looking to sleep, causing frustration and disgust from insomnia.
