Linda Rodriguez noticed tiny red bumps on her arms last month after a night in a Maine hotel.
“They looked like little bites,” Rodriguez said. “Within an hour I had clusters on my stomach and side. They were crazy itchy.”
The Miami woman said she checked the hotel bedding, did online research, and discovered the culprit: bed bugs.
An unbearably hot summer has stirred up the insects that thrive this time of year, making travel and outdoor activity more risky for bites.
From bed bugs to ticks to mosquitoes, insects are making people sick. Knowing how to protect yourself from bug-related illness is important, as well as learning what symptoms to look out for that may need medical attention
Bed bugs are infesting U.S. hotels
Bed bugs are active year-round but reproduce at higher rates during warmer months, just as summer travel peaks. Infestations already this year have been reported in all 50 states in hotels, motels, vacation homes, and even dorm rooms. Bed bugs move by crawling from one object to another, and can easily attach to clothing or luggage and be transported without notice. They move quickly and usually bite at night.
People often are unaware they are being bitten by bed bugs, which are tiny and hard to see. Their small size allows them to hide in places such as the folds of mattresses or inside cracks or crevices. Unlike mosquitoes, bed bugs do not transmit disease, however their bites cause small, red bumps that are extremely itchy and last about a week. According to Orkin pest control, Chicago is the city with the most reported infestations, followed by New York and Philadelphia.
“Some people react more violently to bed bug bites,” said Roberto Pereira, a UF/IFAS urban entomologist who conducts research on the biology and control of bed bugs and other insects that live in and around human structures. “However, most of the time the bite will just go away.”
If the infestation is extreme and a person is exposed to bed bug bites for a long period of time, the individual may develop anemia and symptoms of low blood volume, known as hypovolemia, Pereira said, adding that the scenario is rare.
What to do if bit: Over-the-counter medicines, such as antihistamines or itch creams can help provide relief. Avoid scratching. Excessive scratching can cause an infection at the site of the bite
Prevention: The strong scent of lavender is unpleasant to bed bugs and may keep them away. Also, check for bed bugs before going to sleep by looking at the folds of mattresses and bedding for small, dark, rust-colored spots and a sweet, musty odor.
Dengue outbreak driven by unseasonably hot and humid temperatures
If you are traveling this summer, you should be aware that dengue, a mosquito-borne illness, has wreacked havoc in Latin America. Right now Argentina is suffering its worst dengue season on record. According to the Pan American Health Organization, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay combined have registered 4.5 million cases. Also, Puerto Rico declared a public health emergency after the illness sent more than 400 people to the hospital.
Symptoms of dengue include severe headaches and fever, dizziness, fatigue and indigestion.
Miami-Dade and Broward County Mosquito Control are on high alert and setting mosquito traps throughout the counties. They learned from what happened in 2016, when Miami was was blindsided by Zika, another mosquito-borne virus that had ravaged Latin America and surfaced in South Florida.
A dengue mosquito bite is much redder and more itchy compared to a normal mosquito bite. Sometimes dengue symptoms appear after the fever has gone away, including severe abdominal pain and persistent vomiting.
Dr. Aisha Subhani, chair of the emergency medicine department at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, said when a patient comes in with symptoms, she immediately asks if they have traveled.
“South Florida is diverse and we have such a wide variety of patients from diffent demographics and ethnicities, and they travel. When they come to the ER we ask about travel history, and last year when we learned a patient had traveled to Venezuela, we were able to diagnose dengue fever.”
What to do if bit: There is no specific treatment for dengue, but doctors can treat the symptoms. Subhani advises seeing a medical professional if you have traveled to an area with a dengue outbreak and have severe stomach pain, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or blood in your nose, gums, vomit or stool. Most people recover in a couple of weeks, but about one in 20 people develops severe dengue, which can be fatal.
Prevention: Researchers are working on dengue fever vaccines. For now, experts advise wearing bug repellent. Olga Naidenko, VP of Science Investigations at Environmental Working Group, said despite previous concern over the chemical DEET found in bug repellents, the benefits of using sprays outweighs the risk. “If you prefer, you can use botanical alternatives, but they are not as effective,” she said, “The more concentration of DEET, the longer it lasts.”
Naidenko advises reading the labels of bug repellent carefully. Some chemical concentrations are okay for adults, but not for children. Her organization publishes a guide.
Mosquitoes carrying disease put Floridians on guard
With the record-breaking heat in Florida and recent flash floods, the area is a hotbed for mosquito activity. Most bites are harmless, but some mosquitoes transmit diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika. Last year, seven malaria cases in the Sarasota area were the first cases acquired within the state since 2003 and triggered a statewide alert.
“Every mosquito bite is a chance to get infected with disease,” said Pereira at UF.
Some mosquitoes are daytime biters and others are most active in the early morning and late afternoon.
Dr Francisco Solis, a family medicine doctor with Optum Miami, advises against scractching mosquito bites. “If you create open lesions, they can become infected,” he said.
What to do if bit: Rub the bite rather than scratch it, Solis said. Also dab it with alchohol or hydrocortisone cream. Watch carefully for additional symptoms of potential disease, such as fever, chills and nausea.
Prevention: Repellants such as DEET and picaridin can help boost your protection, as can wearing clothing and gear treated with permethrin, which repels mosquitoes. “Repellent doesn’t last all day,” Solis said. “If you are going to be outside for a long time or going swimming, you need to reapply it.”
Ticks more plentiful than ever this summer
Experts say a warmer winter and hot summer have led to an increasing variety of ticks pushing into new geographical areas and bringing a variety of diseases. Ticks are infected with germs that can cause illness, and spread those germs when they bite. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists more than a dozen diseases transmitted by ticks. Pets are at risk of being bitten by ticks, too.
If you are traveling to the Northeast or Midwest, you should know that scientists predict the blacklegged tick nymphs that carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease will be robust this summer. U.S. health officials estimate nearly a half-million Lyme disease infections happen annually. Maine has the highest incidence of Lyme disease in the country.
The most common symptoms of tick-related illnesses include fever and chills, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. People with Lyme disease may also have joint pain and a bull’s-eye shaped rash.
“In endemic areas, there are Lyme disease alerts,” said Dr. Subhani at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital. “When people go hiking up north, they have to be careful.”
What to do if bit: Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as you can. Clean the bite area and your hands. Some doctors may prescribe doxycycline after a tick bite to lower your risk of Lyme disease.
Prevention: Try to walk in the middle of paths, wear light-colored and permethrin-treated clothing, and use Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents with DEET or picarin. Check your body and clothing for ticks after spending time in wooded areas.
Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics, and most people recover. However, if you go untreated, it can worsen and cause debilitating pain. There is no Lyme vaccine on the market in the U.S. for people but one is being tested.
Dr. Cynthia Lord, associate professor and disease transmission expert with University of Florida UF/IFAS, said anyone traveling this summer should research for insect outbreaks before they go. “Be aware of what’s happening in the area you are visiting and take precautions,” she said. You can check the CDC or the World Health Organization’s traveler information sites for risks in places you plan to visit.
Also, she said, after all the rain in South Florida, make sure you rid your property of standing water that could attract mosquitoes.
Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com or @cindykgoodman on X.
