Long after you’ve rid your home of unwelcome bedbugs, chemicals they leave behind in their droppings may continue to haunt you, a new study shows.

In people, the immune system releases histamines to protect the body. These chemicals help other immune system chemicals to repair damaged cells or fight off germs.

But histamines shed by bedbugs can cause rashes and trigger respiratory problems in humans, researchers from North Carolina State University found.

The findings were published online in the journal PLoS ONE.

High histamine levels

Bedbugs leave high levels of histamine in their droppings, the study authors explained. For these pests, histamines serve as a marker to help them congregate in places where they can find sleeping people or food.

“Histamine levels in bedbug-infested homes were at least 20 times higher than histamine levels in homes without bedbugs,” said study leader Zachary DeVries, a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State.

“And these levels didn’t decrease much three months after treating the infested homes with heat and insecticides,” DeVries added in a university news release.

What the study entailed

For the study, the scientists examined specific apartments in a complex located in Raleigh, North Carolina. They looked for signs of bedbugs and collected dust from both contaminated apartments and apartments with no evidence of infestation.

The investigators found the apartments with bedbugs had dust with much higher histamine levels than the dust from the apartments that didn’t have bedbugs.

After monitoring histamine levels over time, the apartments treated professionally for bedbug infestation still had persistently high histamine levels three months later.

Ways to control histamine levels

The researchers plan to continue to explore the best ways to lower bedbug histamine levels.

“A combination of heat treatment to eradicate bedbugs and rigorous cleaning to eliminate some of the household dust could be a way to reduce these histamine levels; we’ll do future testing to bear that out,” DeVries said.

“We’ll also further investigate the effects of histamine in an indoor environment, including chronic exposure to histamine at low levels,” he added.

Rid your room of bedbugs

A previous article on Health24 gives the following tips on how to prevent bedbugs.

• If you purchase second-hand clothing, keep it sealed in a plastic bag until you wash it in hot water. Then put it in the dryer at high heat.
• If you acquire used furniture, paint or seal it before using it. The bugs are tiny enough to hide in screw holes.
• If you discover bedbugs in your home, spray insecticide and vacuum bedding and furniture thoroughly and place the vacuum bag outside in the trash. Keep doing this daily and “check for tiny brown bugs or pieces that may be part of the bug,” he advised.
• When you travel, check the mattress. “If you see tiny brown specks, move yourself and your clothing and luggage out immediately,” he stated. Inform the hotel manager or your hosts.
• If you are bitten by bedbugs, wash the area with soap and water and dry thoroughly. Apply anti-itch cream to prevent irritation and limit scratching. See a doctor if a bite becomes warm to the touch, swells or hurts.

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The research adds to evidence that diet in pregnancy can have an impact on a child’s allergies.

Dutch adventurer Wim Hof is known as “The Iceman” for good reason. Hof established several world records for prolonged resistance to cold exposure, an ability he attributes to a self-developed set of techniques of breathing and meditation — known as the Wim Hof Method — that have been covered by the BBC, CNN, National Geographic and other global media outlets. Yet, how his brain responds during cold exposure and what brain mechanisms may endow him with this resistance have not been studied — until now.

A new understanding of why synthetic 2-D materials often perform orders of magnitude worse than predicted was reached by teams of researchers led by Penn State. They searched for ways to improve these materials’ performance in future electronics, photonics, and memory storage applications.

A detailed study of a giant impact crater on the Moon’s far side could provide a roadmap for future lunar explorers.

Researchers say the waist-to-hip ratio is a better heart attack predictor than general obesity.

While we all know there is a risk, no parent is ever prepared to hear a doctor diagnose their baby with any type of illness, let alone an incurable, rare disease.

Nicole Capper was crowned Mrs South Africa 2018 and is avidly using that platform to create awareness about rare diseases.

Inflammation and infection

The topic is incredibly close to her heart, especially since her daughter, Tatum, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just six weeks old.

“At three weeks, Tatum suddenly stopped breathing and turned grey. I rushed her to hospital where after three weeks she was diagnosed. Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs and digestive system. Tatum’s lungs are prone to inflammation and infection, and will deteriorate with age,” said Capper.

Capper and her husband, Brian, believe that if they had looked into their DNA and genetics, they could have prevented this from happening to their daughter.

“At first, I was an avid advocate for family planning and genetics counselling, especially among my family members. But with a disease that has more 3 000 genes to test for, testing is costly and not always foolproof.

“And as Tatum grows, I realise that I would not change her for anything in the world. Of course, I hate to see her suffer, but as a parent, you realise that if you and your children have the privilege of living long enough, you will all experience suffering at some point. No one is immune to the adversities life serves,” says Capper.

Learning and growing

Capper says that something like this is devastating for families. Having a “sick child” was one of her biggest fears, and when it happened it was the end of their lives as they knew it.

She says, “Naturally we felt responsible for the fact that she has this disease. It was our genes that gave her the condition, but with counselling and seeing a psychologist, we were able to work through these feelings in a healthy way.

“We learnt it was important to grieve and mourn the loss of hopes and dreams. It was important to come to an acceptance of the severity of Tatum’s condition, and then to grow into gratitude for how much she does have, and realise how this challenge has truly redefined our perspective and purpose.”

Capper added that families who are going through this kind of ordeal should know that while it is earth-shattering and hard to come to terms with, they should be patient with themselves and go through the emotions to heal. They must know that things will get better and that it’s an opportunity to turn one’s life into one of pure joy and gratitude.

Awareness of rare diseases

February 28 marks International Rare Disease Day and the theme is “research”. Non-profit organisation Rare Diseases South Africa (RDSA) is encouraging people to learn about their genealogy and family trees.

Another SA mom, Kelly du Plessis, started advocating for more awareness around rare diseases 11 years ago, encouraging people to be informed about their genealogy and learn more about potentially life-threatening illnesses.

Du Plessis is the CEO and Founder of RDSA, and is dedicated to raising awareness about rare diseases and helping those who have them – like her son, Juan.

She established the organisation after her newborn son was diagnosed with Pompe’s disease, a life-threatening condition that affects the heart and muscles.

“When it happens to you, you very quickly become aware of what needs to change in society, and I realised I had to make a change for my own sanity, and to feel like our journey wasn’t in vain,” says Du Plessis.

Researching rare diseases

Du Plessis adds that her efforts are aimed at getting people to research their genes so that they can become aware of diseases, conditions and predispositions they may have in their family tree.

“Approximately 80% of rare diseases are genetic in nature, and are therefore carried down through your family bloodline. It doesn’t seem like a big thing, but knowing the possibilities makes you more aware when planning a family and understanding your risk of passing a disease on to your children. This will allow you to adapt your plans when considering starting a family.

“This knowledge also assists you in understanding what treatments may or not be available to you in the world of precision medication,” says Du Plessis.

Learn about your genetic history

Knowing your family tree and genetic details is an important message RDSA and Capper want to get across.

While genetic testing is quite pricey, it is more accessible than it used to be. US gynaecologist and obstetricians are advised by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to offer pre-pregnancy carrier screening for genetic diseases, according to The Conversation.

These tests screen both parents for any mutant genes. If either parent has a mutant gene, it doesn’t necessarily mean they suffer from or display the symptoms of a disease. 

Should both parents carry a mutant gene, however, their child may have what is known as a recessive mutation or gene, which could result in a inherited, genetic disease, like muscular dystrophy or cystic fibrosis.

Prospective parents who cannot go the natural route to fall pregnant, have an option of Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) and/or Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). These procedures test for chromosomal abnormalities and gene mutations to detect if the embryos have any abnormalities, which could result in rare diseases.

These tests come with a hefty price tag – anywhere between R25 000 and R60 000.

Incurable, but treatable

Most rare diseases are inherited and cannot be cured, but the symptoms and secondary illnesses that stem from the rare disease can be treated. Certain rare diseases cause severe deficiencies in certain enzymes, such as Fabry disease, which results in unhealthy fat build-up in various organs due to a lack of Alpha-galactosidase A.

Pharmaceutical company, Sanofi Genzyme, has partnered with the RDSA to launch this year’s annual Rare Disease Day.

Dr Rashem Mothilal, head of Sanofi Genzyme, told Health24, “Rare disease is an area with a significant, unmet need and as such, we invest in building sustainable partnerships with patient organisations and other stakeholders dedicated to prioritising the needs and increasing access to healthcare for patients and families affected by rare diseases.

“We also understand that having a life-saving treatment doesn’t mean much if it doesn’t reach those who need it. Over the last two decades, one of our programmes has provided free enzyme replacement therapy to more than 2 000 patients in 80 countries. And we will continue to work towards building healthcare systems which ensure long-term and sustainable support for the needs of patients with rare disorders.”

In a statement, Dr Mothilal added that the goal is to empower the lives of patients and families affected by a rare disease and to encourage leading role players to focus their efforts on diagnosis, research and care for patients with rare diseases.

Improving testing standards

Capper adds that if testing and diagnosis are done sooner, it could reduce or even avoid damage altogether.

Capper says, “Many countries test for diseases like cystic fibrosis at birth with a heel prick test, which I believe would dramatically reduce unnecessary lung damage before diagnosis.”

Du Plessis adds that rare diseases often go undiagnosed due to confusion about symptoms. “Many symptoms of rare diseases are similar to or mimic more common conditions, therefore, when doctors encounter a patient with these ‘common’ symptoms, it’s presumed they have a more common condition and are treated accordingly.

“Rare diseases are generally a combination of about seven to 10 ‘common’ symptoms, which together make up the rare disease. Improved diagnostic facilities and awareness, along with improved training at tertiary level are required in order to improve the diagnosis rates in South Africa.”

Misdiagnosis, or no diagnosis at all, could take its toll on those who have rare diseases, along with their families and friends.

There’s hope

In the meantime Tatum goes through four to six hours of therapy each day and has accepted that it is now part of her life.

“She is a happy two-year-old girl, who calmly lies down for hours of chest physiotherapy while watching a movie and uses her nebuliser at least three times a day. She knows her tablets are helping her pancreas, and she will tell you that she is a strong, big and powerful girl.”

Do you or someone you know have a story to share with us? Send it to healthnews@health24.com and we may publish your story. Please indicate if you would like to remain anonymous.

^{Image: Supplied – MoSparks Production/Nicole Capper}

Stefni Herbert

The guidance advises parents to help their child understand how they were born.

If you’ve been on a diet more than once, you know that it can be harder to maintain weight loss than to lose it in the first place.

In fact, many people feel that dieting is easier and that not regaining the weight is the real challenge.

Here’s help to keep off the kilograms you worked so hard to shed.

Hunger may subside

Some research suggests that being more relaxed about eating helps with weight management by boosting your psychological well-being.

Lifestyle changes are crucial. That means adopting a “forever” eating approach rather than thinking of weight loss as a diet that you go on and off.

In a previous Health24 article, research suggests that the feeling of hunger, one of the hardest parts of losing weight, may subside if you can keep the weight off for a year. 

If you’ve ever wondered how some people are more successful at staying slim than others, you’ll find many insider tips at the National Weight Control Registry in the US. The registry tracks over 10 000 people who’ve lost a significant amount of weight and kept it off for a long period of time. Sticking with exercise is their number one tip.

Scientific meal replacement

A 10-year study of 3 000 registry participants found three more essentials: Weigh yourself regularly, limit fat portions and avoid overeating. One key to not overeating is to always focus on your food. If you’re distracted, chances are you’ll eat more than you intended.

Here are some more National Weight Control Registry success tips:

• Exercise for an average of 1 hour every day.
• Eat breakfast every day.
• Weigh yourself at least once a week.
• Watch less than 10 hours of TV a week.

Also, remember that it takes fewer calories to maintain your new weight than it did your old weight. By not returning to old eating habits, the battle to stay slim will be won more easily.

An effective and relatively easy way to limit your daily calorie intake is scientific meal replacement options. Research has shown that just one meal replacement per day will result in an average of 3.9kg weight loss over a year, compared to someone not using a meal replacement.

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Parents are less likely to seek early dental care for their children if they don’t receive guidance from a doctor or dentist, a new survey finds.

The poll of 790 parents with at least one child aged five or younger found that one in six of those who did not receive dental advice from a health care provider, thought children shouldn’t visit a dentist until age four or older.

But the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association recommend starting dental visits around age one, when baby teeth first emerge.

A valuable opportunity

“Visiting the dentist at an early age is an essential part of children’s health care,” said Sarah Clark, co-director of the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.

“These visits are important for the detection and treatment of early childhood tooth decay and also a valuable opportunity to educate parents on key aspects of oral health,” she added in a university new release.

A previous Health24 article emphasises that a child’s first visit to the dentist is an important part of growing up, and going to the dentist regularly is a very important part of establishing good dental habits.  

Need for guidance

Clark said the poll showed “that when parents get clear guidance from their child’s doctor or dentist, they understand the first dental visit should take place at an early age. Without such guidance, some parents turn to family or friends for advice. As recommendations change, they may be hearing outdated information and not getting their kids to the dentist early enough.”

Unfortunately, more than half of the parents did not receive guidance from their child’s doctor or a dentist about when to start taking their child to the dentist.

Among parents who did not receive guidance from a doctor or dentist, only 35% thought dentist visits should start when children are aged one year or younger, according to the poll.

But 60% of parents said their child had seen a dentist, and 79% of those parents said the visit was worthwhile, the findings showed.

Among the 40% of parents whose child had not yet seen a dentist, common reasons for not going included: the child is not old enough (42%); the child’s teeth are healthy (25%); and the child would be afraid of the dentist (15%).

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