Are kissing bugs dangerous?
Do They Bite? Bites from kissing bugs are not usually serious and cause only mild pain and redness. These blood-feeding insects may target both humans and animals. Kissing bugs feed at night and their bites usually go unnoticed until the person bitten wakes up from their sleep.
Can a kissing bug make you sick?
Kissing bugs can transmit a parasite that leads to a potentially serious illness called Chagas disease. Most cases of Chagas disease occur in Latin America. Although infection directly from exposure to the kissing bug is rare in the US, it is still important to take steps to prevent kissing bug bites.
Where do kissing bugs come from?
Kissing bugs are found in warm southern states of the U.S. and in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Kissing bugs can hide in cracks and holes in beds, floors, walls, and furniture. They are most likely to be found: Near places where a pet, such as a dog or cat, spends time.
Where do kissing bugs live in the US?
Most of the world’s kissing bugs are in Central and South America and Mexico. They’ve also been found in the United States in the lower 28 states, with higher concentrations in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. Kissing bugs have been spotted a far north as Delaware, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
What to do if kissing bug bites you?
How can you treat kissing bug bites?
- Wash the bites with soap to lower the chance of infection.
- Use calamine lotion or an anti-itch cream to stop the itching.
- Use an ice pack to stop the swelling.
- See your doctor if you think the bite may be infected.
Is the kissing bug dangerous to your health?
Kissing bugs carry a parasite that causes Chagas disease, which can lead to serious heart and stomach problems. So are we in for a summer invasion of these bloodsucking insects that are far from romantic?
Can a kissing bug spread Chagas disease to humans?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning about Triatoma sanguisuga, a type of “kissing bug” that can pass along a parasitic disease. These bugs feed on the blood of animals and humans, and tend to bite human faces. When they do, they can spreading an illness called Chagas disease.
When do kissing bugs bite do they go unnoticed?
These blood-feeding insects may target both humans and animals. Kissing bugs feed at night and their bites usually go unnoticed until the person bitten wakes up from their sleep. Most people who have been bitten by these bugs were not aware of the bite and had little or no reaction.
Are there kissing bugs that can bite dogs?
The bugs can also bite dogs, and they can get the same heart issues as people, but in a shorter timeline, Gunter says. The insect found in Delaware, which had bitten a child as she watched television at night in her bedroom in July 2018, was sent to the CDC, which confirmed it was a kissing bug but found it negative for the parasite.