Another bedbug question

[grayland]

With all of the many posts and threads on the dreaded bedbug problem, I don't think I have ever seen anything in regard to what you should do on the Camino if you are bitten.
If you wake up with bites you have obviously been exposed and I would think may be carrying them on yourself or pack. What do you do to keep from giving them a ride to the next albergue?

 

[MichaelB10398]

Washing all your clothing and bedding in very hot water will kill them. When an infestation is known, you will find future places will demand that your clothing, etc. be cleaned prior to staying to prevent further infestation.

Down sleeping bags are not easily washable; thus I recommend synthetic linings. Of course, using permethrin prior to your Camino may also help.

 

[deborah101]

Not only must we address treatment of gear and clothing, but people need to know what to do to treat bedbug bites. On the Camino last fall I heard about pilgrims who suffered such severe bites they needed to be hospitalized for treatment with corticosteroids. One person had such a bad reaction she had to go home. Here is a link for more information.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bedbug ... -and-drugs

Also, a link for a response I wrote last fall about the bedbug situation, when I reached Santiago and read a a posting in which a writer minimized the problem.

http://www.caminodesantiago.me.uk/forum ... tiago.html

Someone also told me that putting everything into an electric dryer on really high heat is the best way to kill the things.

 

[craigmiller]

Washing all your clothing and bedding in very hot water will kill them. When an infestation is known, you will find future places will demand that your clothing, etc. be cleaned prior to staying to prevent further infestation.

Down sleeping bags are not easily washable; thus I recommend synthetic linings. Of course, using permethrin prior to your Camino may also help.

It is questionable if clothes washers will attain temperatures above 50C-60C for the time required. (I know ours won't get that hot). But it is heat, not water, that kills bedbugs and their eggs. So, throw your gear directly into a clothes dryer and crank up the temperature. It will heat up faster and hotter if dry. (Unfortunately, Some dryers won't get hot enough, either). Luckily, we found an albergue with dryers large enough for our 55L packs and that a ended our bedbug relationship.