Study: Bed Bugs Produce Histamine That May Be Harmful

An entomologist is someone who studies insects. These people are an important part of the pest control industry. The simple reason is because they help us discover previously unknown things about pests. This helps us discover new ways to combat them. It also helps us learn about the dangers posed by pests. A good example of this is a recent study carried out by the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. What this study discovered was that bed bugs produce histamine. If you’re someone who suffers from allergies, then this will obviously be extremely interesting to you.

Bed bugs produce histamine: what you need to know

In case you’re unaware, histamine is a chemical produced by our bodies. This chemical causes inflammation and triggers the immune system. Large amount of histamine can also trigger allergic reactions, rashes and respiratory problems.

This is why this study is so important to get the facts. If you’re someone who has to deal with allergies, it means bed bugs can actually be a more serious than for other people. It also means that bed bugs could be the culprit behind your health issues. For example, too much histamine in the body can lead to issues like asthma and an irregular heart rate.

But what did this study actually find? Basically, it was discovered that bed bugs produce histamine…about 50 micrograms a week. What this means is that an infestation of 1,000 bugs could produce as much as 40 milligrams a week. This adds up to about 2 grams per year which, believe it or not, is actually quite a lot.

Does this mean bed bugs are dangerous for some people?

This is something that these scientists stress and have found through the evolution of bed bug treatments. You see, bed bugs are not generally dangerous to humans. Yes, their bites cause distress, but they do not spread deadly diseases. This study changes that fact. You see, with this much histamine, it’s entirely possible that these bugs could trigger a serious allergic attack. The scientists also pointed out that bed bugs produce histamine right where we sleep. This makes the problem even more attention worthy.

It was also discovered that their diet plays a role in this. It was found that bed bugs which feed on blood i.e. humans, produce the largest amount of histamine. Ultimately, the bottom line is this: bed bugs produce histamine and this can be dangerous when bed bugs bite. This problem can cause a number of health issues like headaches and asthma, or breathing issues. Basically, if you’re experiencing health issues it could be because of bed bugs. Also, if you have issues with allergies, plus a bed bug infestation, then you must do something about it immediately. Remember, these bugs could trigger an allergic reaction and the problem cannot be ignored.