Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Bed bug bites, skin, etc.
Derm says dust mites...
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Studentessa
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 3
Posted 1 month ago
Thu Oct 15 2009 4:01:43
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I'm spending a semester abroad in Rome and at the end of August I took a weekend trip to Florence where I picked up bed bugs. I've seen the bed bugs and have the characteristic bites but it's been ridiculously hard to get the administrators of my study abroad program to understand the problem and do anything about it. They initially thought I had an allergy to dust mites but eventually I got the message through to them that it was something different. Throughout this whole time I've been sleeping at a friend's apartment or on the couch in my apartment and whenever I sleep anywhere besides my own bed, I don't get bitten. I've tried sleeping in my bed after a couple of treatments (insecticide, liquid nitrogen) but I still get bitten.
The admins took me to a dermatologist here in Rome who is absolutely convinced that I am particularly sensitive to dust mites that live in Rome. When I told him that I had seen the bed bugs and had no bites or itchiness as long as I didn't sleep in my own bed (even if I slept in the very same apartment), he gave me some story about how I could have a delayed reaction. Then when I said I would have bites every time after I slept in my bed, he said I could have an immediate reaction. It sounded like bull to me, but the administrator who brought me to this doctor was convinced.
I have two concerns: The first is that I won't be able to get anymore treatments for bed bugs because the people in charge think it's something else and because everything we've done to get rid of bed bugs specifically hasn't really worked. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of dust mites or bed mites that could help me show them the difference between that and bed bugs?
I'm also wondering if anyone has any experience with liquid nitrogen. That was one of the treatments I've had in my room and it doesn't seem to have worked. Does this typically take more than one treatment to be effective?
Thanks!
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Bugbitten Meg
junior member
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 59
Posted 1 month ago
Thu Oct 15 2009 14:36:12
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Cold treatment... is a hot topic around here. It's used by some reputable companies as part of an IPM (integrated pest management) method... but it's basically a direct-contact killer. If it does not hit the bug, it does not kill the bug. And bedbugs are very good at hiding...
The IPM treatments will take at least two treatments, because eggs are generally not reliably killed by the treatments. It may easily take more.Unfortunately, if you don't sleep in your bed at least a night or so a week, the bugs are eventually going to get hungry and follow you. That's why the recommendation is that you keep sleeping there... because they will eventually go to the couch, or wherever else you go. Moving buys you immediate sleep, but spreads the infestation faster.
Good luck with the bureaucracy, but whatever the outcome, be sure to read the FAQs --especially those about decontaminating your stuff after a trip. A semester of bugs is bad ... but nowhere near as bad as bringing them home with you. Have a plan well ahead of time for how to clean or encapsulate everything you are taking. If you wait until after you go home, you risk bringing them back.
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Studentessa
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 3
Posted 1 month ago
Fri Oct 16 2009 17:05:26
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Thanks Meg. I'll check out the FAQs and see if I can get the liquid nitrogen treatment again. My parents suggested spraying a mixture of ammonia, water and alcohol in all the crevices and on the bed frame. Do you think that will be effective?
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Who did the treatment with LN2? Ecotrade?
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Try and trap a sample (or a bunch if possible). Nothing like show and tell, when it comes to bed bugs.
And yes, you could have an immediate response, a delayed response, a large welt, no visible bite marks, itching or no itching. Dermatologists can't visually diagnose bed bug bites (or a lack thereof). If they did a biopsy, we're told they may be able to establish an insect had bitten you.
Our Italian PCO friend EffeCi is a good person to talk to :-)
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Studentessa
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 3
Posted 1 month ago
Sun Oct 18 2009 15:43:07
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EffeCi - I don't know the name of the company who did the liquid nitrogen. Are you familiar with different companies in Rome?
Nobugsonme - I'm going to try catching some to bring in. The idea of seeing them stuck to tape or in a cup doesn't thrill me but I agree that it would be pretty effective.
Meg - I've continued sleeping in the bed and thanks to the cold weather I've been able to cover myself and avoid bites.
Thank you all for your advice!
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Bugbitten Meg
junior member
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 59
Posted 1 month ago
Sun Oct 18 2009 16:32:01
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Studentessa - 1 day ago »
Thanks Meg. I'll check out the FAQs and see if I can get the liquid nitrogen treatment again. My parents suggested spraying a mixture of ammonia, water and alcohol in all the crevices and on the bed frame. Do you think that will be effective?I don't specifically know about the ammonia mix, but it may well work; people often use Murphy's Oil soap at a strong concentration mix or Isopropyl alcohol (use with care, it's flammable. People on the forum routinely recommend 91%, but I don't know if that's a necessity, or just the theory that 'the stronger the better') All of these things are contact killers, look around on the forum for info, try entering key words in the search box.
These treatments usually can't hurt/might help, but if your PCO sprayed or left anything that should act as a residual killer, make sure you don't clean anywhere that will wash it away.
Hungry bedbugs will eventually get under blankets, so you may not continue bite free, but on the other hand, if you're not getting bitten, your treatments are at least cutting back on the bugs...
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