Not everyday that you read this:
Mental health impact
One aspect of the medical affects of bed bug bites that is almost never addressed is the significant psychological distress caused by the bites. This is a very real health problem and should not be ignored. There is an apparent stigma associated with bed bugs that relates the insect with poor housekeeping and hygiene,29 even though five star hotels do not escape infestations. Often when people learn that there is an insect in their bed that is biting them at night, they are horrified and disgusted. This can develop into a delusionary state, whereby the patient feels bites and insects crawling on them, even if the bed bugs have been eliminated for some time.30 As bed bugs often bite on the face and neck, the resulting bite marks can affect an individual’s self esteem and possibly interfere with employment performance or prospects. Another aspect of how bed bugs impact on the mental health of people relates to the trauma of the cost of eradication, which can be from hundreds to thousands of dollars per infestation.
Not to mention this:
[S]ince the mid 1990s there has been an unprecedented global bed bug pandemic.
Doggett, S.L., Russell, R. (2009) Bed bugs – What the GP needs to know. Australian Family Physician. 38(11). 880-884. (free PDF download)
The authors include several photos of bed bug bite reactions, including blister-like reactions. There is mention of the Canadian bed bug anemia report (see our interview with one of the authors here) and a brief discussion of bite sensitivity with reference to Reinhardt et al. 2009 (we discussed here) and Goddard/deShazo (JAMA 2009), and also to this other Goddard/deShazo article (Midsouth Entomologist 2009) which I suppose we should have discussed earlier but, well.
One more quote from Doggett and Russell:
As bed bugs are not known to transmit infectious diseases, most regional and local health authorities do not strictly consider them to be a health issue. Clearly, however, they are a community health problem. Bed bugs produce variable irritating skin reactions and are responsible for considerable mental anguish, as well as being a major economic imposition on the community. Unfortunately, such an apathetic stance by health authorities can allow the bed bug resurgence to continue and become an increasing problem in more communities. As a result, more medical practitioners will be consulted by more victims of bed bug bites.
I think the apathy of public health authorities has indeed been an agent of the spread. But this apathy would not have persisted so long were it not for the stigma. I’m not sure how this will play out in the years to come, given all current evidence that suggests bed bug problems will continue to increase. Some interesting times ahead for sure.
What has been your experience with doctors and bed bugs? I hope more doctors start to ask about bed bugs. In my experience it does pay to start the conversation yourself. Educate your doctor, for the next patient who seeks advice.
And what do you make of the p word and bed bugs? Can we finally start calling this a pandemic? I never properly understood the reluctance.
Finally, on a barely related note of wishful thinking, I have been intrigued by NYC’s public health detailing program. What a great idea. Could we possibly piggyback some bed bug literature in there?
These pages may be of related interest: