It is well known across the globe that bedbugs are not carriers of diseases unlike other pests such as mosquitoes, ticks, and many others. The effect of bed bugs on humans has to do mainly with their bites. Bed bug bites have minimal effects on the skin like itching which may last for just a week or two.

Recent studies have shown that a one-bed bug is likely to produce about 50 micrograms of histamine per week. This has raised concern among health practitioners and PMPs. Can this newly discovered histamine production by bed bugs be a threat to human health?

What is Histamine?

Histamine is a chemical compound that occurs biologically in the body and is responsible for most allergies in the human body. Histamine plays a major role in the body as it warns the body against an incoming foreign body. It plays roles as a hormone and neurotransmitter.

Whilst histamine has a positive effect on the body, the negative nature of this compound overrides the former. It may be due to over or under-secretion of histamine. This may cause anxiety, anorexia, depression in some cases, and impaired cognitive performance.

General Effects of Bedbugs 

Under normal circumstances, when a bed bug bites an individual it releases anticoagulants and anesthetic substances. This prevents one from the realization that they have been bitten. Bed bug bites may or may not have effects on individuals. The effects of bed bug bites vary in different persons. Some individuals may not have any visible effect while others may have severe allergic reactions. Some allergic effects of bed bug bites include:

• Inflamed spots

• Dark spots

• Itching or irritation of the affected area

• Blisters

• Hives

• In rare cases, skin infection.

   

  

Causes of Bed Bug Infestation

Bedbugs are very small and they can be transported from one place to another unconsciously. Bed bugs are not necessarily enthralled by dirty environments. As long as the place is warm and it has a good host, it breeds there. Some common causes of bed bug infestation include;

• Constant traveling

• Change in pest control practices

• Use of already-infested mattresses.

• Furniture swapping.

• Infested clothes

• Bedbugs can also move from one infested room to the ear.

Bed bugs and Histamine

Recently, studies and research have shown that bed bugs are active producers of histamine. Production of histamine by bed bugs Is in relatively dangerous amounts. 

Histamine is produced in high amounts mostly by blood-sucking bed bugs. As bed bug infestations are rampant in nearly every part of the world. This might yield negative effects because bed bugs are mostly found in the resting places of most humans. Excess histamine is harmful to human health. However, the effects of histamine produced outside the body are not known yet. More research is going on to know more about the current situation. The hypothesis has shown that this may pose a threat to health. Therefore, a piece of general advice to the public is to get rid of bed bugs if noticed in one's home.

Control of Bed Bugs

The most effective way to control bed bug infestation is by contacting a pest management professional. Most folks don't go for this option as it requires a lot of finance.