RESEARCH TOPIC: PREVALENCE OF BED BUG INFESTATIONS IN SOME BOARDING SCHOOLS AND HOSTELS AND EVALUATING THE EFFICACY OF SOME COMMERCIAL INSECTICIDES IN SUNYANI, BONO REGION
Bedbugs are small parasitic arthropods that carry a substantial level of nuisance, particularly in unsanitary surroundings (Olatunbosun et al., 2017). Nocturnal and blood-feeding, bedbugs assume a flattened profile when not engorged with blood (Munoz-Price et al., 2012). Predominantly, they inhabit concealed locations like crevices in furniture, bedding, draperies, and walls (Gbakima et al., 2002) during the day, and emerge at night to feed on their human hosts (Hwang et al., 2005). Their primary attractants include carbon dioxide, body heat, and various undefined olfactory cues (Munoz-Price et al., 2012). Two species of bed bugs, Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus, are known to be associated with humans, with the former found in tropical regions (Armstrong and Cohen, 1999) and the latter being the predominant species in subtropical areas (Usinger, 1966).
Their interaction with humans presents notable public health issues due to their consistent biting and blood-sucking capabilities. The frequent bites of bedbugs have been documented to lead to various physical manifestations including allergic reactions, skin irritations, and a range of health issues (Wong et al., 2013). These bites are also recognized for triggering psychological distress such as anxiety and insomnia among affected individuals (Doggett et al., 2004). Bedbugs have been discovered to naturally harbour various human pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasitic worms (Ratnapradipa et al., 2011), prompting multiple researchers to speculate on their potential for transmitting pathogens to humans (Goddard and deShazo, 2009). Nonetheless, there is no evidence to suggest that they transmit any infectious diseases (Onah et al., 2014). The consensus regarding their medical consequences is primarily centred on dermatological responses (Tharakaram, 1999), irritations, and allergies that can lead to sleep disturbances and iron deficiency in children (Doggett et al., 2012). Secondary bacterial infections like cellulitis, impetigo, ecthyma, lymphangitis, and folliculitis have been documented as a result of scratching bedbug bite sites (Doggett et al., 2012). Notably, skin reactions are the predominant clinical impact of bedbugs (Munoz-Price et al., 2012).
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