Abstract
Bed bugs are on the rise in urban populations across the world, perhaps reflecting the ban on the use of organophosphates in many countries worldwide. They are flat obligate haematophagous insects, preferring humans, and as a consequence the bed bug bites lack toxins and can often go unnoticed for some time. Bites can however cause wheals, purpura, petechiae, vesicles, pustules, papular urticaria, localised infection and rarely anaphylaxis. Infestations have to be confirmed by finding the bugs, usually around the bed of the person being bitten. Eradication usually requires a combination of physical (e.g.high temperature, mattresses protectors, traps, cold) and chemical methods (e.g. chrysanthemic acid derivatives plus potentiators such as geraniol and piperonyl butoxide, or acetyl choline esterase inhibitors).
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