Bedbug (Cimex lectularius) infestations in Colombia. Report of two cases

Abstract Introduction: Cimex lectularius (bed bug) is a hematophagous parasite that can be considered as an emergent and neglected concern in Colombia. Due to their increasing importance, the following two clinical cases secondary to a bed bug infestation are presented. Case presentation: Two p...

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Main Authors: Julián Felipe Porras-Villamil, Mario Javier Olivera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional de Colombia 2023-12-01
Series:Case Reports
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Online Access:https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/care/article/view/97456
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author Julián Felipe Porras-Villamil
Mario Javier Olivera
author_facet Julián Felipe Porras-Villamil
Mario Javier Olivera
author_sort Julián Felipe Porras-Villamil
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction: Cimex lectularius (bed bug) is a hematophagous parasite that can be considered as an emergent and neglected concern in Colombia. Due to their increasing importance, the following two clinical cases secondary to a bed bug infestation are presented. Case presentation: Two patients, one male and one female (31 and 30 years old, respectively) went on their honeymoon trip to Costa Rica and Nicaragua in 2017. During those trips, both patients stayed in the same room in hotels of different categories. Upon their return to Bogotá (Colombia), erythematous lesions and pruritic papules appeared without any apparent explanation, which were associated with intense pruritus and had a clustered and linear (breakfast-lunch-dinner) pattern. During consultation with the Travel Medicine service, a diagnosis of dermatitis due to bed bug infestation was made. With the recommendations given by the medical staff (in which no chemical measures were suggested), the bugs and lesions disappeared. Conclusion: Bed bugs are a public health problem of increasing importance worldwide. This report of two cases presents one of the few published evidences of their presence in Colombia. As both cases are domestic, the relevance of an early diagnosis and a comprehensive approach based on the needs of the patients is demonstrated.
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spelling doaj-art-055015620f504db89de2fd24cf8346fc2025-08-20T02:04:52ZengUniversidad Nacional de ColombiaCase Reports2462-85222023-12-019210.15446/cr.v9n2.97456Bedbug (Cimex lectularius) infestations in Colombia. Report of two casesJulián Felipe Porras-Villamil0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1861-4601Mario Javier Olivera1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6885-6353Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Master's Degree in Tropical Infections and Health - Bogotá D.C. - Colombia.Instituto Nacional de Salud - Parasitology Group - Bogotá D.C. - Colombia. Abstract Introduction: Cimex lectularius (bed bug) is a hematophagous parasite that can be considered as an emergent and neglected concern in Colombia. Due to their increasing importance, the following two clinical cases secondary to a bed bug infestation are presented. Case presentation: Two patients, one male and one female (31 and 30 years old, respectively) went on their honeymoon trip to Costa Rica and Nicaragua in 2017. During those trips, both patients stayed in the same room in hotels of different categories. Upon their return to Bogotá (Colombia), erythematous lesions and pruritic papules appeared without any apparent explanation, which were associated with intense pruritus and had a clustered and linear (breakfast-lunch-dinner) pattern. During consultation with the Travel Medicine service, a diagnosis of dermatitis due to bed bug infestation was made. With the recommendations given by the medical staff (in which no chemical measures were suggested), the bugs and lesions disappeared. Conclusion: Bed bugs are a public health problem of increasing importance worldwide. This report of two cases presents one of the few published evidences of their presence in Colombia. As both cases are domestic, the relevance of an early diagnosis and a comprehensive approach based on the needs of the patients is demonstrated. https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/care/article/view/97456Bed bugsParasitesCimicidaeCase reports, speech-language pathology.
spellingShingle Julián Felipe Porras-Villamil
Mario Javier Olivera
Bedbug (Cimex lectularius) infestations in Colombia. Report of two cases
Case Reports
Bed bugs
Parasites
Cimicidae
Case reports, speech-language pathology.
title Bedbug (Cimex lectularius) infestations in Colombia. Report of two cases
title_full Bedbug (Cimex lectularius) infestations in Colombia. Report of two cases
title_fullStr Bedbug (Cimex lectularius) infestations in Colombia. Report of two cases
title_full_unstemmed Bedbug (Cimex lectularius) infestations in Colombia. Report of two cases
title_short Bedbug (Cimex lectularius) infestations in Colombia. Report of two cases
title_sort bedbug cimex lectularius infestations in colombia report of two cases
topic Bed bugs
Parasites
Cimicidae
Case reports, speech-language pathology.
url https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/care/article/view/97456
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