Don't let the bed bugs bite
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Bed bug infestations have surged in recent years with the rise of international travel, and resistance to pesticides. The blood-sucking insects - which hitch rides on furniture, luggage, and clothing - seek warm bodies to feed on at night, making mattresses and box springs their homes.
The tick-size parasites have been blamed for spreading disease, and their bites have been treated with a variety of drugs. But little scientific evidence has guided the efforts.
Jerome Goddard and Dr. Richard deShazo of Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi Medical Center reviewed 53 medical articles to assess what bed bug information is supported by medical fact. They found no evidence that bed bugs can transmit disease, including HIV or hepatitis B. They also found that most bites, which cause itching or rashes, subside within two weeks - with or without commonly recommended over-the-counter remedies.
Infected bites can require antibiotics, their review found. On rare occasions, the authors say, bed bug bites set off more serious reactions, including asthma attacks or allergic reactions for which antihistamines, epinephrine, or corticosteroids are prescribed.
Their review found little hope for eradication. The best way to prevent bed bugs is to avoid them, the authors conclude, because no repellents have been proven to work. And they warn that bed bugs are developing resistance to the insecticides used in malaria nets.
BOTTOM LINE: Bed bug infestations are becoming more common, but there is little evidence to support treatment or eradication.
CAUTIONS: The studies reviewed by the authors included only two clinical trials, the most rigorous kind of study; most articles were case reports of only one or two people's experiences.
WHERE TO FIND IT: Journal of the American Medical Association, April 1
ELIZABETH COONEY
Birth defects are seasonal
Certain birth defects occur more frequently in babies conceived in the spring and early summer, and pesticide exposure may be part of the explanation, according to a new study from the Indiana University School of Medicine.The first few weeks after conception are a critical period for the embryo, as the heart, spinal cord, and other organs form. Alcohol, smoking, and infections can disturb this process. To explore whether pesticide exposure might also have an impact, researchers studied the rate of birth defects in more than 30 million births from 1996 to 2002, using information from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Researchers found that birth defects were highest in women who conceived between April and July. Next, using data from the US Geological Survey, researchers found monthly pesticide levels in surface water also peaked during those months - and that the correlation was strongest with certain birth defects, including spina bifida, cleft palate, and club foot.
"Based on the results . . . we can't prove that pesticides cause birth defects, but we certainly can't rule out the possibility that pesticides play a role," said Dr. Paul Winchester, the senior investigator.
BOTTOM LINE: Babies conceived in spring and early summer, when pesticide use peaks, have a slightly increased chance of having a birth defect.
CAUTIONS: This study does not prove cause and effect. In addition, high levels of pesticides in ground water don't necessarily mean women are exposed to high levels during the spring and summer months.
WHERE TO FIND IT: Acta Paediatrica, April 2009.
SUSHRUT JANGI
