Gruffalo Jim
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- April 2017
Been reading about bed bugs...Any preemptive advice...Or aftercare in case advice doesn't work?
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For some people bedbugs can be terrible and send them to hospital. Yes it's a minority of people, but it does happen.A few bed bug bites is really no big deal. The real issue is just making sure they don't get into your house or you'll be driven crazy trying to get rid of them.
The real issue is that you don't transport them to the next albergue!The real issue is just making sure they don't get into your house or you'll be driven crazy trying to get rid of them.
Ahhhh! My worst nightmare. Was so afraid I had brought them home when the bumps kept appearing post-arrival.I carried a tiny bottle of permethrin and sprayed the inside of my pack before flying home. I was so glad I did, because I found two dead bedbugs when I emptied my pack.
ha ha...no worries on the beer front though. I'll buy the first round.@Mark Lee you are the eternal optimist. I love your carefree, take it as it comes attitude! I hope our paths cross sometime for a cerveza or two. I will be the guy loosing his hair from the premetherin,
I did Frances in summer 2015. Considering that one doesn't usually 'see' bedbugs, being tiny and nocturnal, I saw them in three hostels which suggests that they are rampant. Personally, I wouldn't drive myself crazy trying to avoid them en route. A few bed bug bites is really no big deal. The real issue is just making sure they don't get into your house or you'll be driven crazy trying to get rid of them.
When you get home, don't take anything into the house...strip down naked...everything that can should be washed and/or dried in hot, hot, hot. Anything else, inspect, spray. You can put things in freezer and/or tie things off in plastic bags, though I believe they are resilient so need to be in there a really long time.
The bedbug issue on this forum is exaggerated.
I have spent well over 100 nights on the Camino in all manner of accommodations. The gambit of them. Never saw a bedbug. Never was bit by one. Never stayed in one where I later spoke with a fellow pilgrim who had stayed in it at the same time, who said they were bit by one.
Bedbugs play no role in my Camino walk planning and really give them little thought while walking the Camino and I suggest everyone do so, unless you like worrying for the sake of it.
and no way would I soak my clothes or sleeping bag/liner down with a toxic, possible carcinogen chemical liquid and then have it have contact with my skin for several hours a day.
ultreia.....walk without fear or worries
Three years in Spain on Camino's, zero bed bug issues so far. I always have gone in April, so not sure if the cooler weathe
My walking companion was bitten to death by bedbugs, and another young woman showed me her bites - they loved her, it was the third time she'd been attacked. Fortunately I don't seem to be to their taste.
I carried a tiny bottle of permethrin and sprayed the inside of my pack before flying home. I was so glad I did, because I found two dead bedbugs when I emptied my pack.
I have slept about 200 nights in albergues from 2009 on, while walking my several Caminos and one time i got seriously bitten by fleas: it was during my Camino del Norte in 2010, just after i passed Santander (it was in an Albergue called Regato de las Anguilas: i don't know if it's still open).
Fleas infested my backpack and i couldn't get rid of them until i got to Gijòn, some days after.
Also a friend of mine, with whom i had started my Camino, got bitten.
After that bad experience i started to treat my garments and my backpack with permethrine every year, just a few days before leaving Italy to Spain for my yearly Camino.
I can assure you all that the bedbugs issue is more real than we can guess, according to what the hospitaleros themselves tell if you start talking about this subject: but much people, when bitten or with an infested backpack, either just ignore the problem, or are unaware of it or, more probably, they are too ashamed to to tell and face the problem.
I saw 4 bedbugs total on the Norte last spring in 3 alburgues, all in the morning once lights were turned on, climbing up the walls. Was glad I had treated my sheet, outside of sleeping bag and pack. If nothing else, it helped me sleep easier each night, which was worth alot!Oh, they're there alright. This is Pedro from Pamplona.
I have to disagree on blaming the pilgrims for them being transported. A person would almost never really know if a itty bitty bug had hitched a ride. You almost never seem them. They come out in the middle of the night and in daylight they're hiding in teeny weeny crevices. And even if you did see one, it would almost certainly be when you are unpacking in the afternoon and who knows where that one would have come from! (I only caught this one because I knew enough, when I got up when it was still pitch dark out, to throw a light on the bed and see if anyone was there) It just is what it is. Unless there is a coordinated plan of every pilgrim, stripping, washing, fumigating, etc, every night along the way, with all albergues doing the same, it would be hard to stop them.
As I said...I assume they're there. I just worry about it once I get home. View attachment 32684
Jim, the only time I've been bitten by a bedbug was from the seat on a night flight years ago - in the typical straight-line-pattern with several bites in a row, and they itched like crazy for about a week. On Camino, I roomed with someone who had been bitten badly at a previous albergue (and had a worse allergic reaction to the bites with large welts all over her back) who had to hike to the town with a clinic and get treatment for them. Then the new albergue took over her bag, gave her some temporary clothes, and hot-washed and dried everything she'd brought with her. Both night flights and albergues are perfect places for bedbugs: dark, tons of people exhaling CO2 in enclosed places.
I take everything outdoors, spray Permethrin on the outsides of my backpack, sleeping bag and hiking shoes, and as I'm ready to leave, I spray a bit on the back of my airplane clothes and shoes. Might sound like overkill, but I've not had any trouble with bedbugs on the Camino or on the night flights.
I find Deet works better on bed bugs than permethin. Hoping to be lucky, but will be packing spray fosho.
If someone knows that they have been bitten and doesn't take precautions against spreading them, then I do blame them. When I was bitten I assumed that I could possibly be carrying them, and told the hospitalera at the next albergue that I stayed at. She was wonderful, and helped me take care of everything.I have to disagree on blaming the pilgrims for them being transported. A person would almost never really know if a itty bitty bug had hitched a ride.
Ditto.The bedbug issue on this forum is exaggerated.
I have spent well over 100 nights on the Camino in all manner of accommodations. The gambit of them. Never saw a bedbug. Never was bit by one. Never stayed in one where I later spoke with a fellow pilgrim who had stayed in it at the same time, who said they were bit by one.
Bedbugs play no role in my Camino walk planning and really give them little thought while walking the Camino and I suggest everyone do so, unless you like worrying for the sake of it.
and no way would I soak my clothes or sleeping bag/liner down with a toxic, possible carcinogen chemical liquid and then have it have contact with my skin for several hours a day.
ultreia.....walk without fear or worries
Your post makes good sense. My problem is not so much that I fear the bite itself, but imagining them slowly climbing into bed with me totally freaks me out and gives me the "heebie jeebies"!Being bitten is not a big deal to most people and so far there is no evidence that it causes anything worse than a severe local reaction in some people.
But who knows? We never used to be concerned about being bitten by ticks - now we know about Lyme disease and mammalian meat allergy. Fleas have been with us forever and generally are not a problem. Except for bubonic plague!
The spread of bedbugs is real. To minimise risk I think it would be really helpful to eliminate the embarrassment factor. And ignorance. That is why I think it helps to talk about bedbugs, not to alarm people but in a matter-of-fact kind of way.
Fleas are much smaller, are flat and jump around. Bedbugs are shaped more like a small apple seed and crawl slowly.Do you think that it is possible that some people might have mistaken fleas for bedbugs some of the time? how can you tell a fleabite from a bedbug bite? Granted, fleas are no fun to have either.
My friend is an exterminator and he said that Permathin and DDT no longer work due to over exposure unless you are able to spray it right on them. Besides as noted above, it's not good for humans or animals. He stated that diotomaceous earth (DE) a white powder works best. Can be used on bedding and on self not harmful to humans or animals. The other option as deterrent but not killer, are essential oils such as tea tree, lavender oil, peppermint oil etc. These strong scents would most likely turn bugs from you to non treated victims close by...Just from experience, critters seem to be more prevalent in summer but I think they are always around, maybe just more active. I've traveled a lot and have always used Burt Bees peppermint cream after showering. This has worked for me when others have gotten feasted upon...It has a calming effect so maybe I just sleep better
Now that's funny! Someone just gave me her book to read. I thought I'd bring it with me and read it at night after walking all day.No bedbugs.
No wild dogs.
No abattoirs and the screams and smells of death.
and actually overall, I had no worries on the Camino. Just a good time.
Are we talking about the same Camino Frances, or were some of y'all walking the one Ms. MacLaine was on? C'mon now, fess up if you were.
Fleas are hard to catch, bedbugs are easy to catch and easy to kill. No room for a mistake. Also the bites become visible like clockwork on the afternoon, appearing in a nice row.Fleas are much smaller, are flat and jump around. Bedbugs are shaped more like a small apple seed and crawl slowly.
One chapter of it was about all I could stomach.Now that's funny! Someone just gave me her book to read. I thought I'd bring it with me and read it at night after walking all day.
Oh, they're there alright. This is Pedro from Pamplona.
I have to disagree on blaming the pilgrims for them being transported. A person would almost never really know if a itty bitty bug had hitched a ride. You almost never seem them. They come out in the middle of the night and in daylight they're hiding in teeny weeny crevices. And even if you did see one, it would almost certainly be when you are unpacking in the afternoon and who knows where that one would have come from! (I only caught this one because I knew enough, when I got up when it was still pitch dark out, to throw a light on the bed and see if anyone was there) It just is what it is. Unless there is a coordinated plan of every pilgrim, stripping, washing, fumigating, etc, every night along the way, with all albergues doing the same, it would be hard to stop them.
As I said...I assume they're there. I just worry about it once I get home. View attachment 32684
...or maybe you do not "react" to the bites. Some people don't. I've finally worked out that my bites take about 36 hours to appear, but before I figured that out, I never knew which hostel or guest house actually had them.Three years in Spain on Camino's, zero bed bug issues so far. I always have gone in April, so not sure if the cooler weather helps or I have just been lucky so far. Not something I worry about very much.
I've finally worked out that my bites take about 36 hours to appear, but before I figured that out, I never knew which hostel or guest house actually had them.
People like me REALLY like people like who who take precautions out of consideration for others If more of us took precautions, we wouldn't spread these parasites from auberge to auberge, person to person, and the Camino could be a lot more worry-free and enjoyable for everyone, I'm sure.Jim, the only time I've been bitten by a bedbug was from the seat on a night flight years ago - in a typical straight-line-pattern with several bites in a row, and they itched like crazy for about a week. On Camino, I roomed with someone who had been bitten badly at a previous albergue (and had a worse allergic reaction to the bites with large welts all over her back) who had to hike to the town with a clinic and get treatment for them. Then the new albergue took over her bag, gave her some temporary clothes, and hot-washed and dried everything she'd brought with her. Both night flights and albergues are perfect places for bedbugs: dark, tons of people exhaling CO2 in enclosed places.
I take everything outdoors, spray Permethrin on the outsides of my backpack, sleeping bag and hiking shoes, and as I'm ready to leave, I spray a bit on the back of my airplane clothes and shoes. Might sound like overkill, but I've not had any trouble with bedbugs on the Camino or on the night flights.
That's right. My first encounter was in a really nice Radison SAS hotel in Brussels. The second in a otherwise decent hotel in Poland and then many on the Camino. The last bites came in a nice hotel in Santiago. Thank God, I have not taken any home, but we have been pretty hysterical about it. Leaving the luggage or backpacks in the garage and stripping naked before entering the house, freezing and washing etc. Anyway, I must say that on my next Camino I'm still not planning to carry any extra poisons but I will be better prepared with the cortisone creme to treat the bites. And I'll do my best not to carry them to the next place.I hope that I never come across them. However I know that they can also be found in 5 star hotels anywhere in the world. In fact I think it was (the whole city of) New York, that a had a plague in the top Hotels about 10-15 years ago. I'm allergic to Pyrethrum and it's by-products, so can't use it. Probably lucky about that because even if I wasn't, I personally don't think that I'd soak the things that I was going to put againson my next Camino I't my skin in it. So I look for them on arrival fairly well, and cross my fingers. Interesting I've never done it in a Hotel anywhere in the world, because I assume they'd never be there, despite that I know they can just as easily be. So I guess it's a Camino mindset. They're there (somewhere) of course, but they are in top hotels in other countries too.
Good point. I'm worried about bringing them home. I am considering spraying everything with supermarket insect killer and sealing it in a garbage bag for a while. Would that be effective? I doubt if pemethrin is readily available in Spain.Jim, the only time I've been bitten by a bedbug was from the seat on a night flight years ago - in a typical straight-line-pattern with several bites in a row, and they itched like crazy for about a week. On Camino, I roomed with someone who had been bitten badly at a previous albergue (and had a worse allergic reaction to the bites with large welts all over her back) who had to hike to the town with a clinic and get treatment for them. Then the new albergue took over her bag, gave her some temporary clothes, and hot-washed and dried everything she'd brought with her. Both night flights and albergues are perfect places for bedbugs: dark, tons of people exhaling CO2 in enclosed places.
I take everything outdoors, spray Permethrin on the outsides of my backpack, sleeping bag and hiking shoes, and as I'm ready to leave, I spray a bit on the back of my airplane clothes and shoes. Might sound like overkill, but I've not had any trouble with bedbugs on the Camino or on the night flights.
Brian, I don't think supermarket insect killer works, but sealing everything in a garbage bag for a few days and leaving it out in the hot sun is said to work. I spray with Permethrin before I go and it's supposed to be good for 6 weeks, including washing during that time. I put my backpack in a garbage bag if I'm being picked up at the airport, and when home, I take the metal stays out of my backpack and put everything washable into a hot washing machine and then the dryer. I sure understand being concerned about bringing them home.....in fact, I'm starting to itch just thinking about it:0)).Good point. I'm worried about bringing them home. I am considering spraying everything with supermarket insect killer and sealing it in a garbage bag for a while. Would that be effective? I doubt if pemethrin is readily available in Spain.
One chapter of it was about all I could stomach.
I suppose there could be some comic relief reading it while walking the Camno.
She is. "Two Mules for Sister Sara" is one of my favorite Clint Eastwood movies.Yes, Mark. Brilliant actress, loopy person. I listened to about half the audio version. The book is not worth reading, much less carrying.
Permetrina is readily available in Spain. Nevertheless the object of the exercise is to not acquire the buggers in the first place and to deal with them immediately should you do so. @SYates excellent, and much quoted, post tells you how to deal with any potential contamination.Good point. I'm worried about bringing them home. I am considering spraying everything with supermarket insect killer and sealing it in a garbage bag for a while. Would that be effective? I doubt if pemethrin is readily available in Spain.
Ya, I read a bit of it and she is a bit too much. I will skim through it. It got mixed reviews, some saying good stuff but others saying she is full of herself. I will try it and probably leave it on the trail somewhere for some other poor soul to read.One chapter of it was about all I could stomach.
I suppose there could be some comic relief reading it while walking the Camno.
Ya, I read a bit of it and she is a bit too much. I will skim through it. It got mixed reviews, some saying good stuff but others saying she is full of herself. I will try it and probably leave it on the trail somewhere for some other poor soul to read.
Heat is very effective. Anything that can go in a household dryer for 20 minutes (when dry) can be disinfected that way. Or any way to keep things at 55°C for that time. Alternatively, freezing at -17°C for several days will do it.Good point. I'm worried about bringing them home. I am considering spraying everything with supermarket insect killer and sealing it in a garbage bag for a while. Would that be effective? I doubt if pemethrin is readily available in Spain.
Sorry to tell you but bedbugs are not that small. Like a moderate sized ladybug crossed with a teenage woodlouse.Seemingly, the way to spot the difference is; insects 6 legs, arachnids (adult) 8.
I just wish my eyesight was good enough to spot that on something so small.
Stop it, you'll give yourself nightmares. I was bitten on SLEEPER TRAINS in India. It's not that bad, just hot wash your stuff.Ah but my eyesight is terrible Crikey never realised they were almost ladybird size. Poogeyejr never told me that. I'm sweating up just thinking about that. Whst if they walk into your ears? Another trip to Google land is planned for first thing tomorrow.
Too funny!Ah but my eyesight is terrible.
Crikey never realised they were almost ladybird size. Poogeyejr never told me that. I'm sweating up just thinking about that. What if they walk into your ears? Another trip to Google land is planned for first thing tomorrow.
Only joking, there aren't (m)any, although as I mentioned above, I had an unpleasant encounter of the arachnid kind. This thing was literally 10cm across and it was on the CEILING above someone's bed. It bit her leg, which later went purple and black and shiny.Arrrgghh, too late, you just mentioned them ......
Well look at it this way. You could be walking in the Northern Territory of Australia where you would not have to worry about bed bugs but about crocodiles, 5 different speceis of venemous snakes, white tailed spiders (amongst others) whose bite necrotises your flesh ( happened to me once) , leaches, kangaroo ticks, midges, mosquitos and cane toads - just to mention a few annoyances. So enjoy the Camino it could always be a lot worse.Only joking, there aren't (m)any, although as I mentioned above, I had an unpleasant encounter of the arachnid kind. This thing was literally 10cm across and it was on the CEILING above someone's bed. It bit her leg, which later went purple and black and shiny.
I don't mind any except the spiders. Spiders are just horrrrrrrrrendous.Well look at it this way. You could be walking in the Northern Territory of Australia where you would not have to worry about bed bugs but about crocodiles, 5 different speceis of venemous snakes, white tailed spiders (amongst others) whose bite necrotises your flesh ( happened to me once) , leaches, kangaroo ticks, midges, mosquitos and cane toads - just to mention a few annoyances. So enjoy the Camino it could always be a lot worse.
Just no. I work in conservation and I still can't abide them.ah @notion900 then you would love Sydney. The wet weather has brought out the funnel-web spiders. Why I wear gardening gloves when weeding. Or taking the lid off the worm farm. I love the St Andrews cross spiders we get in our garden (pretty, and a beautiful web) and huntsmen are huge but friendly and I've happily left one in my bedroom for a week, but funnel webs - nooooo.
My friend is an exterminator and he said that Permathin and DDT no longer work due to over exposure unless you are able to spray it right on them. Besides as noted above, it's not good for humans or animals. He stated that diotomaceous earth (DE) a white powder works best. Can be used on bedding and on self not harmful to humans or animals. The other option as deterrent but not killer, are essential oils such as tea tree, lavender oil, peppermint oil etc. These strong scents would most likely turn bugs from you to non treated victims close by...Just from experience, critters seem to be more prevalent in summer but I think they are always around, maybe just more active. I've traveled a lot and have always used Burt Bees peppermint cream after showering. This has worked for me when others have gotten feasted upon...It has a calming effect so maybe I just sleep better
I also have used Burt Bees and it has helped me get a better sleep. I have also found out thanks to http://ohealthyeah.com/get-rid-bed-bugs-regain-comfort/ that the bugs can't survive on temperatures higher than 113F, so whenever I come back from traveling, I put my clothes and bed sheets in my dryer on a high temperature and let them "cook" for about 30 mins so every bug dies. So far it has worked great and I haven't noticed any bite marks or itching that could be caused by a bedbug.
I should have replied earlier this year. I had a superb, blister and bed bug free Camino... stayed in municipal and private albergues. Even one night on judo mats in a sports hall...not a trace of bed bugs. But I did impregnate my pack and bedding...who knows. I walked in April May. Back in June for 10 days with my daughter... hopefully for me to complete again in September or October....Been reading about bed bugs...Any preemptive advice...Or aftercare in case advice doesn't work?