Kissing bug, Chagas disease: Doctors may be missing cases, study finds - What bugs pose a problem during the summer in South Carolina?

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Bite From Parasitic Bug Spotted In South Carolina Can Be Deadly

 

What kinds of problems do kissing bugs cause? These bugs can cause skin irritation, such as redness or itchiness, in people who are allergic or sensitive to their bites. However, kissing bugs have been found to carry a parasite that causes Chagas disease , which can be fatal in some individuals. During the early phase, you might have a fever, body aches, a rash, fatigue, headaches and other milder symptoms.

Without treatment, this disease can enter an advanced stage that can lead to heart failure, blood clots, an enlarged heart or other organs, and sudden cardiac arrest. How do these pests manage to get inside homes? They can enter anywhere that offers them a small opening, such as a torn screen. They might also fly in through unscreened, open windows.

Kissing bugs typically live outdoors in hollow trees that other animals have inhabited, such as rats or raccoons. Unlike us warm-blooded mammals, insects are ectothermic cold-blooded , relying on environmental heat to regulate their body temperature. During the fall and winter, many bugs hibernate or migrate. As the weather warms up, these bugs return to our yards and homes, multiplying and thriving off the summer heat.

Of course, this coincides with a time when friends and family gather for barbecues, enjoy wooded hikes, or visit the pool for an afternoon swim. So as insect activity increases, so does our time outdoors. Mosquitoes are among the most annoying bugs in South Carolina. During the summer, these pests are out in force, often breeding in still water in yards and around homes.

The best way to deal with them is to eliminate opportunities for them to breed. Professional pest services like Compass Pest Management offer comprehensive mosquito control services. Learn more about mosquito season in South Carolina.

Learn more about professional ant control in South Carolina. But in some cases, wasps and hornets may endanger you or your family.

Kissing bugs can cause patches of bites, often around the mouth. The bites are usually painless, but they may swell and look like hives. Itching from the bites may last a week. Home treatment can help stop the itching from kissing bug bites and prevent an infection. You can:. Kissing bugs can be hard to get rid of. Bugs can hide in cracks and crevices in the mattress, bed frame, and box spring. They can spread into cracks and crevices in the room and lay their eggs.

For these reasons, it is best to call a professional insect control company for treatment choices. The usual treatment is the use of an insecticide that kills the bugs.

It is best to prevent bugs from getting into your house:. Blahd Jr. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: William H. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish.

As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning.

NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. In the last couple of months, we have had some phone calls and inquiries about the kissing bug and the Chagas Disease. Matt Bertone explains in a blog post that cases of the disease in the United States are rare, and most have been diagnosed by people who traveled here from outside the country.