Bed bugs, bedding, and what’s bugging us

You’ve made peace with the return of cold weather. As temperatures plummet and heating bills rise, you can curl up with a good book in your favorite easy chair or slip into bed for a long winter’s nap. That is, unless your favorite spot is already taken by bed bugs.

If a sudden rash doesn’t tip you off, you can confirm their presence by the specks of brown and red they leave on cushions and sheets. The bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is a light brown, oval-shaped creature less than a quarter-inch long. It seeks warm places, is usually active at night, and survives by drawing blood from people, often without our noticing it at the time.

How much of a health problem do bed bugs pose? And how can we get rid of them? The good news is there’s no evidence that bed bugs transmit diseases. However, some people will have an allergic reaction, with rashes and intense itching. Infestations have been linked to asthma.

Bed bugs are hard to eliminate. They can go up to 300 days without feeding, are small enough to hide and nest in confined spaces, and they survive in temperatures from the mid-40s to over 100 degrees.

That doesn’t mean we have to put up with them in our living spaces.

Effective control begins with prevention, and that means keeping a clean house, hotel, school or office. This can be done by thoroughly vacuuming rooms and closets and washing and drying linens on the hot cycle, since temperatures over 115 degrees will kill the bugs and their eggs. More often than not, though, infestations require hiring a professional exterminator to solve the problem.

Bed bug bites don’t always require medical treatment. But if you do pick up an annoying rash or have an allergic reaction to the bites, there are numerous natural remedies that are simple, safe and effective, including aloe vera gel, a baking soda paste, witch hazel, lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. Applying any of these to the skin should help relieve the itching and aid in healing.

In more serious cases, a physician can recommend a topical gel, antihistamine or corticosteroid cream.

Bed bugs are just some of the small annoyances that we must deal with from time to time, but an infestation isn’t fun. Controlling one or preventing one can raise our awareness of our environment, reminding us to be mindful of our homes, work spaces and overall health.

Steve Bernardi is a registered compounding pharmacist at Johnson Compounding & Wellness in Waltham (www.naturalcompounder.com). Readers with questions about natural or homeopathic medicine, compounded medications, or health in general can email steve@naturalcompounder.com or call 781-893-3870.