PITTSBURGH -- The Allegheny County Health Department has seen an increase in calls about bedbugs. The tiny insects that live in mattresses were virtually eliminated by the use of D-D-T, a pesticide that was banned in the early '70s.

During the past several decades, the bugs have made a big comeback.

Allegheny County Health Department Entomologist Bill Todaro said calls used to be few and far between and focused mainly on hotels or nursing homes, but now they have spread to apartments, row houses, single family homes and offices. Todaro said he receives about two or three calls a week.

"Right in the middle of Lawrenceville here where the whole street is a row house and they bring in bedbugs into the row house. Within months the whole street has all their bedding out for the garage,"Todaro said.

Target 11 has learned complaints are coming in from Lawrenceville, Monroeville and Oakland.

Christi Jackson stayed at a hotel in Oakland last year and said she and her 12-year old son were attacked by bedbugs.

"As I turned around and looked over my shoulder, my bed was moving. It was just crawling with bugs. The pillow had the babies. The larger ones were under the covers sucking on the blood,"Jackson said.

Health department officials are attempting to educate people about bedbugs. Most experts agree that the bugs do not transmit diseases, but the bites may cause itchy red bumps or more serious allergic reactions.

The health department said one of the best methods to guard against bedbugs is to clear as much clutter so they don't have a place to hide.

Christi Jackson has now filed a civil lawsuit against the hotel, seeking an unspecified amount in damages.