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Bed Bugs & Kissing Bugs |
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Bedbugs
and kissing bugs are flat, brown, wingless insects that reach
about 1 in. (2.5 cm) long. These bugs get their name because
they are often found around the mouth.
The bugs hide in beds, floors, furniture, wood,
and paper trash during the day. Like mosquitos,
they feed on blood, so at night they come out
to find animals or people. They can live for 4
to 6 months without feeding.
If you have bedbugs or kissing bugs, you may have:
• Patches of itchy bites around your mouth.
The bites may swell and look like hives.
The itching may last a week.
• Red, bumps or blisters on your hands or
other parts of your body.
It is not common to have an allergic
reaction, but it can happen.
Home treatment can help stop the itching and prevent
an infection. You can:
• Wash the bites with soap to lower the
chance of infection.
• Use calamine lotion or an anti-itch cream
to stop the itching.
• Use an ice pack to stop the swelling.
• See your doctor if you think the bite
may be infected.
You also need to treat your house to get rid of
the bugs. You can:
• Wash, vacuum, or clean all furniture and
bedding. Be sure to vacuum cracks in wood doors
or floors where bugs may hide.
• Put small things in a dark plastic bag
and leave it outside in the hot sun for 2 to 3
days.
• Wash clothes in hot water and dry them
on the hot cycle of the clothes dryer.
• Spray the house with an insecticide. Check
with a garden or hardware store for the right
spray.
When the bugs are gone, be sure to keep your house
and bedding clean to prevent the bugs from coming
back. If you are cannot get rid of the bugs, you
can call an insect control company for treatment
choices.
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