The old adage “Don’t let the bedbugs bite,” that every mother would say to their child before bedtime may be hard advice to follow for some residence hall students.
After nearly being eradicated 50 years ago, bedbugs have made their itchy comeback across the country, and it’s not just in hotel rooms – dorms have become prime targets for the late-night bloodsuckers as well.
“There is a growing problem all over the United States, not just in Texas [or Texas A&M University-Commerce],” Hayley Jobe, associate director of residence life said. “It is also a growing problem for any type of industry that houses people – hotels, hostels, residence halls, etc.”
Although bedbugs are not a widespread problem in residence halls at A&M-Commerce, according to Jobe, there have been some reports
The resurgence of bedbugs within the last few years has been attributed to increased international travel and an affinity for used furniture – especially bed frames and mattresses – according to the Harvard School of Public Health Web site. Bedbugs are excellent hitchhikers, and can flatten their bodies to hide in the smallest of crevices to become stowaways in luggage, furniture, clothing and bedding when moving or traveling from residences that are infested.
“Bedbugs are not native to this area,” Jobe said. “They are brought into residence halls on clothing, suitcases, etc.” Bedbugs are about the size of a poppy seed when they are born and can grow up to ¼ of an inch in length, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. The bugs are wingless and a flattened-oval shape.
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, bedbugs are the most active in the middle of the night, but will “venture out during the day to seek a host” if hungry.
Although the best way to get rid of bedbugs is to not get them in the first place, according to an article on USA Today, Jobe advises that if bedbugs are found in the residence halls that the student should alert their Resident Assistant or the front desk of their hall.
“When bedbugs are found, we ask that students do not let anyone come into their room or apartment, and for them not to go into other living places so that they are not spreading them further,” Jobe said.
Bedbugs can survive for months without feeding, according to the Web site, making spring and summer breaks a short fasting stretch for them. The Harvard School of Public Health also advises that used furniture from garage sales and “street items” should be carefully inspected for infestation before bringing potentially infested furniture into your home.
Students should check for the following signs to determine if there is bedbug activity in their residences:
• Look for potential hiding places for bedbugs, like carpet edges, mattress seams, bed boards and other tiny cracks that could conceal bedbugs;
• Look on and around the mattress for droppings, eggs, bloodstains or even bedbugs themselves;
• Clean up your living space of clutter to limit hiding places for bedbugs;
• Don’t leave clothing on the floor or bed. Use hangers to keep all clothes off the bed and away from possible infestation sites; and,
• Keep suitcases and travel bags closed when they are not being used, and do not leave your luggage on the floor. Bedbugs can be brought back to residences inside suitcases, and keeping them closed will lessen the chance of spreading the infestation further.
“[Once a bedbug infestation is confirmed] we work with our contracted pest control services who do a series of treatments in the room,” Jobe said. “We also instruct students to wash their clothes, blankets, sheets and bedding in hot water and dry them on high heat. We also replace the bedding [in the infested rooms].”
“The impact on A&M-Commerce can be substantial,” Jobe said.
“It impacts the University by the time it takes to correct the problem, financially by replacing bedding and for additional pest control services, and by student satisfaction.”
Bites are also evidence of bedbug infestations, usually red, raised welts in a linear or clustered pattern, according to MayoClinic.com. Bites are usually blister-like welts that occur in groups, and a single bite can be up to eight inches in diameter, according to MayoClinic. It is recommended that a topical cream, such as cortisone, be applied to the bite to relieve itching, and to avoid scratching, which will only make the infection worse. If needed, take an antihistamine such as Benadryl? to relieve allergic reactions.
“I am not aware of [infestations] and no one has come in with confirmed bites,” Student Health Services LVN, Sarah Tucker said.