This is an article from Health Day News from today.  Bed bugs are a difficult problem to solve, and a problem best solved by a bed bug profesional like Stop Bugging Me Pest Control.

THURSDAY, Sept. 22 (HealthDay News) — Bed bug infestations are  bad enough, but a new report finds that more than 100 Americans have  become sickened from exposure to the insecticides used to eliminate the  pests.

The cases happened across seven states, researchers said, and bed bug  insecticide exposure may have even contributed to one death.

“The majority of cases involved misuse,” said report co-author Dr.  Geoffrey Calvert, a medical officer at the U.S. National Institute of  Occupational Safety and Health.

Although the issue is not yet a major public health problem, he did  offer one key recommendation for folks battling bed bugs.

“If you can’t control bed bugs with non-chemical means, such as washing  and vacuuming, that means it’s probably going to be difficult to eradicate  them, and we would recommend that people enlist the services of a pest  control operator,” Calvert said.

The findings are published in the Sept. 23 issue of the U.S. Centers  for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly  Report.

Bed bugs have made a notable comeback over the past few years across  the United States and beyond. In San Francisco, for example, reports of  bed bug infestations doubled between 2004 and 2006, one study found.

In the new study, the researchers looked at data on illnesses linked to  bed bug eradication efforts reported via a federally funded pesticide  illness surveillance program between 2003 and 2010. They found 111 such  cases across seven states.

Most of the cases, 93 percent, were among people who tried to solve a  bed bug problem at home. Most of the illnesses involved headache and  dizziness, pain while breathing, difficulty breathing and nausea and  vomiting, according to the report. Many of those who fell ill were  workers — such as EMS technicians and carpet cleaners — who visited  homes but had not been told that insecticides had recently been used.

Most of the illnesses did not require medical treatment and resolved in  about a day, Calvert stressed. But about 18 percent of cases were more  severe and required medical attention, he added.

One associated death was reported: In 2010, a woman in North Carolina  who had a history of heart attacks, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,  diabetes and depression died after her husband used too much pesticide to  try to kill bed bugs. The pesticide turned out  to be ineffective against  bed bugs and was used inappropriately over several days — the woman even  sprayed the pesticide, plus a flea insecticide, on her hair, arms and  chest before going to bed, the report’s authors said.

In another case in Ohio in 2010, an uncertified exterminator used  malathion up to  five times a day over three days in an apartment to treat  a bed bug infestation. The product used was not registered for indoor use,  and so much was dispensed that beds and floor coverings were saturated,  according to the report. The result: Children living in the apartment  required medical help and were unable to live there again. The  exterminator pleaded guilty to criminal charges, was fined and put on  probation.

Calvert noted that the cases documented in his team’s report are most  likely only a fraction of actual illnesses, since most people affected  probably never reported their symptoms and got better on their own.

If consumers attempt to control the pests on their own, Calvert advised  they first make sure that the pesticide they use is made specifically for  controlling bed bugs. Second, they should read the label before using the  pesticide and follow the directions carefully. In addition, people living  in or visiting the treated space should be notified that a pesticide has  been used before they enter, he said.

In some cases, professional help may be necessary.

Overall, the findings “draw attention to the necessity of effective bed  bug control by a licensed, qualified pest professional,” said Missy  Henriksen, a spokeswoman for the National Pest Management Association.

Because bed bugs are one of the most difficult pests to control,  eradicating them can require a partnership between a consumer and a  qualified and licensed pest professional who will effectively inspect and  treat an infestation, she said.

“Treatment may incorporate the use of professional-grade products as  well as non-chemical measures such as heating or cooling rooms, vacuuming,  laundering and disposal of items,” Henriksen said.