The Cimex Lectularius, commonly known as bed bugs, is a pest that feeds on the blood, which causes itchy bites to appear on the skin and generally irritate the human hosts. The government agencies such as the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the EPA (The Environmental Protection Agency), and the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) have all acknowledged bed bugs has pests and a threat to public health. However, bed bugs are not known to spread diseases, but rather create other public health issues. Their only meal is blood, and so each individual has different responses to bed bug bites. Hence, it is vital to pay attention to control and prevent bed bugs.
Basics of bed bugs
Bed bugs are usually flat, are reddish to brown in color, oval in shape, and usually measure up to four to five mm long, approximately the size of an apple seed. They look swollen, especially after having feasted on blood. Bed bugs can survive up to a year without meals. They feed on blood only and have got two skins, since they shed their skin when they grow to be an adult. They are more active at night time, especially when the host is sleeping.
Where bed bugs appear
Bed bugs usually appear and are seen in crevices and cracks, which include mattress seams, furniture, bedspreads, behind headboards, coat racks, electrical outlet plates, and photo frames. They are often found at hotels, especially during peak travel time when they travel “room to room” through luggage or other personal belongings.
Signs of bedbug bites
Bed bug bites are similar of those caused by mosquitoes. It is quite difficult to prove it is a bed bug bite until one finds the bed bug. Some of the common symptoms of a bed bug bite include burning and itching, puffed skin, red welts, red rashes across the area, and multiple straight lines of the bites.
Identifying and destroying bed bugs
If an individual was able to identify a bed bug bite and wants to protect his/her home from multiple troubles, then the best thing to do would be to get in pest control experts who will properly fumigate for bed bugs. Pest control experts first carefully inspect the space, then spray the medicine and also give people proper guidance. It is better to consult with pest management services which use government-approved chemicals (which includes free re-treatment in case the first assignment did not work well) and trained professionals, which will provide quick relief and maximum protection to those facing this problem.
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Things to consider while setting up a natural gas grill
Read moreMany house owners have started to forgo their propane grills for a greener alternative like cheap natural gas grills. If you are thinking of getting a natural gas grill too, then follow the pointers given below when setting up a natural gas grill in your homes.
Choose the right grill
Before buying a natural grill, you need to consider a few things. Cheap natural gas grills vary in price depending on their size. You must assess your budget before buying a grill that is perfect for your cooking style and is suitable to fit in the available space in your kitchen. You will have to pay for installation and other setup charges. Don’t spend all your money on purchasing the grill alone as you will also have to pay for installation, maintenance, and other setup charges. Natural gas grills last longer when maintained well.Check local codes and permit requirements
It is imperative to check for local codes and permit requirements while installing cheap natural gas grills. In most cases, you need to get the permit for the new gas line that connects to the grill. Failure to do so may result in penalization in the form of a fine. These codes and permits also specify how far you can pull the gas line from the source and how deep the line can be buried. It is essential to follow these rules so that you don’t put your neighbors and yourself in danger.Call a licensed plumber for installation
Cheap natural gas grills are easier to set up than their propane counterparts. However, this doesn’t mean that you can install them yourself. Local codes clearly specify that a licensed technician or plumber can only install the natural gas pipeline on your grill. Special tools, valves, and pipes are required in the process of installation which can only be acquired by a licensed plumber or technician. It is better to follow these rules than to deal with the risk hidden in self-installationThese are some of the steps that can help you avoid any potential hazards that may creep up due to improper gas flow later on.
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Common signs and symptoms of HIV
Read moreDuring the onset of HIV, the symptoms are so mild that they are easily missed. But the disease will constantly grow within you as the virus keeps spreading. Therefore, it is important for you to identify that you have HIV as early as possible. The symptoms vary from person to person, but there are some common symptoms that appear within a month or two after you are infected. Some of these most prevalent signs are listed here.
Flu-like condition
About 40-90% of infected people experience a flu-like condition or a mild fever in their initial days. This situation is known as acute retroviral syndrome (ARS). The fever usually ranges around 102 F. However, the fever does not present itself alone. It brings with itself a constant headache and sometimes swollen lymph glands. A sore throat is also experienced by many. This is the phase when the bloodstream starts being full of the virus and the virus goes on replicating in huge numbers.Fatigue
Once being attacked by the HIV virus, your immune system will activate its inflammatory response. This response, in turn, makes your feel lethargic. You will constantly feel out of breath even while performing simple tasks. You may even feel dizzy while walking on the road. Fatigue is experienced in both the earlier and the later days of HIV.Pain in muscles and swollen lymph nodes
Sometimes people confuse the early symptoms of HIV with that of normal flu or syphilis or hepatitis. This is because all of them have almost similar symptoms. Another common symptom is the joint pain. Also, the lymph nodes become swollen. The function of the lymph nodes is to cleanse your blood of the various bacteria. Because of the inflammatory response of the body’s immune system, the lymph nodes tend to swell up and cause mild pain. The pain is usually near the neck, groin and armpit as these are the places, which have the maximum lymph nodes.Skin rash
Numerous people claim to have suffered from skin rashes when they were infected by the HIV virus. Rashes can take the form of boils and sometimes they are in the form of pink breakouts. Your skin becomes scaly. When you are infected with HIV, you become highly sensitive to sunlight and even the slightest change in your environment.Sore throat
A sore throat accompanied by a mild dry cough is another common symptom experienced by many infected with HIV. Although a sore throat can happen to anyone, all sore throat conditions are not related to HIV. When you have HIV, you will notice that your sore throat will not cure despite the regular dosage of antibiotics.Vomiting
Feeling nauseated is also very common when you are affected by HIV. Hence you might suffer from problems related to the digestive system and end up vomiting after every meal. Diarrhea-like conditions may appear at a later stage.
Sometimes people cannot identify HIV even years after they are infected. So if you are sexually active and you observe any of the symptoms that do not appear to get cured, then it is wise to get yourself checked.