Bedbugs Are Pesky but Not Harmful

Researchers Say There's Little Evidence That Bedbugs Carry Human Diseases

Bedbugs may be getting a bad rap. The blood-sucking bugs have been thought to carry a host of different diseases, but a new review of research on the pesky critters suggests they may be less harmful than previously thought.

Researchers say bedbugs have been known as a human parasite for thousands of years, but scientific studies of the insect have been limited.

In the study, researchers reviewed 53 recent studies on bedbugs and their health and medical effects. The results showed that although bedbugs have been blamed for the spread of up to 40 different human diseases, there is little evidence to suggest they are carriers of human disease.

But the review also showed that there also isn't any evidence to back any particular treatment for bedbug bites or how to get rid of the insects.

Usually bedbug bites produce "no reaction with a barely visible punctum at the location of the bite," write the researchers. Bedbug bites can itch; if not made worse by scratching this will resolve within a week.

But some people may experience more complex skin reactions. Common treatment options for bothersome bedbug bites include antihistamines, topical corticosteroids, and anti-itching medications.

Source and More:
http://www.webmd.com/news/20090331/bedbugs-are-pesky-but-not-harmful