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You've spent months planning your perfect vacation at a five-star hotel in a tropical paradise. You'll rest, relax, eat and shop for treasures. Souvenirs can be marvelous reminders of your dream vacation, if you're careful about what you're bringing back. If travelers knew that there is a 90 percent chance that popular hotel chains are prone to bed bugs, even presidential suites in five-star hotels, there might be far fewer bodies lining the beaches. Your favorite hotel may have been host to a bed bug infestation, while patrons slept completely unaware. How would you know if your hotel had bed bugs? What would you do about it? You should have the answers before you take your next trip. Knowing the signs and symptoms of bed bug infestation is your best way to keep these pests from following you home. Itchy This is a sign that you'll feel before you can see it. The itching sensation caused by bed bug bites is prevalent even before the rash is visible. Bed bug bites are usually itchier than mosquito bites. When a mosquito bites, you can feel the sting of the bite and the sucking of blood, but it's quite different with bed bugs bites. First of all, bed bugs only feed while their victims are fast asleep. There are also anesthetics in bed bug's saliva to dull the pain, and anticoagulants to prevent blood from clotting. Bed bugs can bite you without detection, and leisurely feed until they can take no more. After the initial piercing of the skin, a rash will occur at the site of the bed bug bite. This rash usually appears about an hour after the skin is pierces, although some people will not develop a rash until several days after being bitten. It all depends on the individual's reaction to the chemicals secreted by the insects. Could you determine whether your rash is caused by bed bugs? This type of rash begins with one small, red bump that appears more swollen than a mosquito bite. The rash initially consists of a single inflamed spot, but days later, a full-blown bed bug rash can develop. This means, of course, that the first bug has been back for another feast, and he's brought along all of his friends. People who move around a lot in their sleep may notice a rash of "in-line" bite marks. This formation takes place when the bed bugs quickly feed and return to their hiding places when the host begins moving. If you have a rash that you suspect may be the result of bed bugs, observe it for several days. Bed bug rashes remain itchy, even days after the rash first appears. The rash itself will not heal as fast as a mosquito bite mark, and may stay swollen for weeks. Dealing with Stinky The presence of bed bugs can sometimes be detected by a particular odor in the room. A heavily-infested hotel room will have a sweet, musty and offensive odor. This is the smell of bed bug urine and feces. Take of quick "sniff test" of your room before you unpack. Sniff around and under the mattress, over the headboard, upholstered furniture and even wooden chairs. If you detect a strange odor that may be a presence of bed bugs, you're your bags and keep traveling. The odor is less noticeable in hotels with light or minimal infestation, so be careful. Protect Your Home from Invasion * The night before you check out of the hotel, remove every item from your suitcase. Bed bugs are incredibly effective hitchhikers. They are able to survive for months without food, and could very easily start an infestation in your home if they traveled home in your luggage. * Bed bugs are partial to things made of paper, cloth and wood. These are porous materials in which they can easily hide and create a habitat. Carefully inspect any and all items made of these materials. * Using a water-based insect killer, spray all areas inside and outside your suitcase. * Clothes should be shaken vigorously to remove any bed bugs. * Wipe the bathtub dry and put your travel items and clothing in the tub. Bed bugs don't like cold marble and ceramic surfaces, especially those that can get wet. The bugs will quickly leave this environment. * Before you return home, wash all of your laundry. This seems like an awful lot of work, especially on your last day of vacation. It's nothing compared to the trouble you'll go through if you have to exterminate your entire home. Once bed bugs find their way into your bedroom, they'll quickly spread to other rooms in your home. It's incredibly tough to get rid of bed bugs, and you may even have to resort to throwing away your mattresses and upholstered furniture. Taking a dream vacation can be even more fun when you travel with a guest. But if you see signs of Itchy and Stinky in your hotel room, send them packing. You'll be much better off traveling alone.
Article Source: http://www.health-fitness-for-all.com
Contributor Emanuel Elley contributes articles to a variety of Internet magazines, on family travel and home repair topics.
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