Bed bugs have become a nationwide epidemic, affecting millions of people in hotels, apartments, houses, buses, schools, and other places. They were once common before World War 2 but were largely eliminated by DDT until recent decades, when factors like pesticide resistance, immigration, and international travel contributed to their resurgence. Bed bugs feed on human blood and can reproduce rapidly, with females laying hundreds of eggs over their lifespan. Their bites can cause itching, swelling, and discomfort. Effective treatment requires professional extermination through heat or freezing to kill all bugs and eggs. Prevention is important through careful inspection of used items and laundering of belongings after travel or stays elsewhere.
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