Bed Bugs Can Get You Sick Even After You’ve Exterminated Them

Bed Bugs Can Get You Sick Even After You’ve Exterminated Them
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The bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is a parasitic hematopoietic insect common to humans and birds. Bed bugs live and place their eggs inside the cracks of walls or in furniture. They only come out at night to feed on the blood of humans, while they remain hidden during the day. Even though the bed bugs don’t transmit diseases, their bites can get infected. A recent study has shown that bed bugs can get you sick even after you’ve exterminated them.

Surprising substance found in bed bugs feces

A team of researchers from the University of North Carolina has determined that bed bugs feces contain histamine. Even though histamine is known for its beneficial effects against allergies, direct contact with this substance leads to rashes and even to respiratory infections.

The researchers examined several houses in Raleigh which were known to had bed bugs infestations. Even though the insects have been exterminated before the moment of the study, the bed bugs’ feces were still present in the dust in the rooms that were infected.

Scientists studied the remains and noticed the presence of histamine.

“The histamine levels in bed bug infested homes were at least 20 times higher than histamine levels in homes without bed bugs,” explained the study’s coauthor Zachary DeVries.

The histamine levels in the dust are long-lasting

Scientists have kept the samples under observation for three months. They’ve noticed something very important.

The histamine levels were almost the same, even after three months.

Unfortunately, scientists don’t have a clear solution on how to reduce the histamine levels left behind by the bed bugs in their feces. However, properly cleaning the infested rooms from dust and thoroughly washing the mattresses and beddings can be the best solutions to get rid of bed bugs feces and reduce the histamine levels in your house.


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Jeffrey likes to write about health and fitness topics, being a champion fitness instructor in the past.

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