Itchy Infestations

Ectoparasitic pests (external parasites that both live and feed outside of their hosts) often leave behind bumps and marks after biting their victims. Depending on the type of pest, these bite marks can cause a maddening itchy sensation. If either of the three following pests make their way in or around your home, you could have a very itchy infestation on your hands.

Fleas

Fleas are tiny parasitic pests measuring on average only about 4mm long. These nasty little insects are reddish-brown, oval-shaped, are wingless, and have 6 legs. Fleas have very high reproductive potential with a single female producing approximately 2,000 eggs in her lifetime, and the entirety of a flea’s life from egg through adulthood is, on average, completed in 28 days, leading to the existence of several generations in a single season.

Unfortunately, when fleas enter homes, they tend not to discriminate – they will bite pets and humans alike, leaving behind very itchy bite marks and the risk of some dangerous diseases.

Mosquitos

Mosquitos are notorious for biting us and sucking our blood. Once they have found someone to bite, the mosquito pierces into their skin using their mouth appendage known as a proboscis. Upon inserting their proboscis, they immediately inject their saliva into the wound. This saliva contains enzymes that act as an anti-coagulant to improve blood flow and proteins that trigger a mild immune response. This response involves the immune system releasing a histamine, which helps white blood cells access the affected area and leads to the inflammation. The histamine also sends a signal to the nerves around the bite, and it is this very signal, along with the swelling, that causes the itchy sensation.

While this reaction is practically universal for people, there are a few rare cases where people’s immune systems do not have this reaction. Some people are born with this immunity to mosquito saliva, while others have been found to build up a tolerance over significant time. For most people however, this immune reaction will last for a few days to a week depending on whether the bite area is left alone or not (scratching the irritated bite mark, increases the inflammation which, in turn, causes a corresponding increase in the itching sensation – ultimately leaving you in a spiral of maddening itchiness).

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are members of the Cimicidae family that feast on the blood of mammals. These sneaky, bloodsucking insects are masters of concealment and remain hidden in small, dark places within homes. They come out at night under the cover of darkness to suck our blood and their bite marks are often found in clusters or arranged in a linear pattern. This is due to the tendency of bed bugs to bite, walk a tad, bite again, walk a bit more, and so forth.

The most common response to bed bug bites are small itchy red bumps, but in rare cases, people may experience adverse reactions including blisters, swollen tongue, fever, nausea, large red sores, or hives. These are typically signs of allergic reactions and if such symptoms occur, it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention. For normal bed bug bites, the symptoms will usually disappear on their own within a week or two but can be maddeningly uncomfortable in the meantime and the itchy sensation of the bites is often accompanied by a mild burning sensation. Just like with mosquito bites, the level of irritation that the bites can cause is dependent on the individual.

The Dangers of Itchy Infestations

Both mosquitos and fleas present a massive health risk as they are both infamous for being vectors of various diseases. Similarly, while it is incredibly difficult, if not impossible for bed bugs to transmit diseases from person to person, there are a number of adverse reactions that can occur due to allergies, from an extensive number of bites, or sustaining repeated bites over a long period of time. If you, or any family member, begin to show symptoms after being bit by any of these parasitic pests, it is advisable that you seek immediate medical attention.

Finding your home the target of parasitic pests can be very overwhelming. But there’s no need to fear – Green Pest Services has got your back! We have years of experience combating all three of these tricky pests and we will work with you to ensure that you and your family are free of itchy infestations.

Citations

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Bed Bugs: Get Them Out and Keep Them Out (2018) The United States Environmental Protection Agency. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs (Accessed: September 2020).

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Chapter 4: Disease Vectors and Pests (2009) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Center for Environmental Health. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/publications/books/housing/cha04.htm (Accessed: January 20, 2021).

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Holland, K. (2019) Everything You Need to Know About Bed Bug Bites, Healthline. Medically reviewed and edited by C. Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/bed-bug-bites#pets (Accessed: September 2020).

Huizen, J. (2020) Bed Bug Bites: What You Need to Know, Medical News Today. Medically reviewed and edited by D. Sullivan, Ph. D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI. Healthline Media. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318083#control (Accessed: September 2020).

Mayo Clinic Staff (2019) Bedbugs, Mayo Clinic. The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bedbugs/symptoms-causes/syc-20370001 (Accessed: September 2020).

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Mosquito-Borne Diseases (2016) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Institute

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Environmental Health. Available at: https://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/pcfleas.htm (Accessed: May 2020).

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Itchy Infestations