can bed bugs be ingested by a human? « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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can bed bugs be ingested by a human?

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sammilove

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Posted 10 months ago
Fri Jul 20 2012 3:57:38
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I had found a number of bed bugs recently on my kitchen table, bed,and carpet.I found a total of seven and i placed them in a glad plastic bag. I had to google what types of bugs they could have been. And identified them after a few pictures and after crushing them in the plastic bag. They popped and there was blood.i do prepare food on the counter tops and my kitchen table but ever since i have found them i don't.I have had stomach pains. And i will apologize in advance for my detailed description.But i had used the restroom a few weeks ago, And did a number 2, And when i wiped i saw somethings that were kinda of translucent whitish. In the shape of a rice grain with an opening and after seeing pictures and videos, it kinda of looks like bed bug eggs!ugh, i'm really freaking out. And would like for someone to please help answer my two questions based on this matter.First, can a bed bug or bed bug eggs be ingested by a human?And can there eggs get caught in a females head/hair?and if so,how can i treat or what hair product can be used to get rid of them?
rs1971

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Posted 10 months ago
Fri Jul 20 2012 4:44:48
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Bed bugs don't lay their eggs on their hosts so there is no worries about them being on your head or in your hair. Generally, they only spend only as long as required on the host to feed and then return to their harborages. There is no chance that either your stomach pains or what you saw in the bathroom are related to bed bugs. Do you still have any samples of the bugs? If so, it might be a good idea to snap a photo and post a link here do have your identification confirmed by one of the experts.

-rs1971
P Bello

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Posted 10 months ago
Fri Jul 20 2012 6:52:19
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Dear sammi,

Bed bug are evolved from nest parasites. Their normal behavior is to lie in wait for a host to arrive, wait for the host to be sleeping, take a blood meal and then return to a suitable hiding place. As such, we would not explect them to be hiding or laying eggs in your hair.

Can a human ingest bed bugs? Historical references tell us that the Romans would mash up bed bugs and consume them as a cure for snake bites and possibly other ailments. (perhaps you want to keep your bag of bed bugs handy just in case)

Can people inadvertently ingest bed bugs? Anything is possible so the short answer is yes. However, I'm sure the digestive process would result in the destruction of anything bed bug that may have been consumed.

The bed bugs that you found in your kitchen were in an area that we would not normally expect to find bed bugs unless your home was what I characterize as a bed bug ground zero type location. Bed bugs are aptly named, we expect to find them in close association with where people sleep.

Are you 100% certain that these critters are, in fact, bed bugs? Not bat bugs or some other critter?

Hope this helps ! paul b.
P Bello

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Posted 10 months ago
Fri Jul 20 2012 8:12:15
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Clarification !

Thanks to our friend and collegue Doug S. who points out that the Greeks also consumed concoctions of bed bugs as referenced by Unsinger as taking place in about 50 AD, a very long time ago.

Bed bugs were also referenced by the Greeks as far back as 400 BC as well.

Suffice it to say that bed bugs have been around man and have continued to be a PIA for many, many years.

And, while their history may be somewhat interesting, I think we're most interested in how to end their portion of history on a permanent basis asap.

Best wishes for a bug free great day to all ! paul b.
Nobugsonme

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Posted 10 months ago
Fri Jul 20 2012 10:50:41
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Just to add that you might post a
macro photo of your bugs here just to confirm
the diagnosis.