How To Tell If Bed Bug Bite – Medical Review: Debra Sullivan, PhD, MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — Jennifer Hewsen January 17, 2020
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How To Tell If Bed Bug Bite
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How To Find Bed Bugs And Get Rid Of Them
Most people who are bitten by bed bugs experience symptoms such as irritation, sores or itching. But how are bed bug bites treated and can they be prevented?
There are several ways to reduce the chance of being bitten, and treatment options include good hygiene and taking antihistamines.
Although bed bugs are a public health concern, they are not known to transmit disease through bites.
Bed bugs use a small tubular structure called a proboscis to pierce the skin and drink a person’s blood. Parasites are most active during sleep, at night and early in the morning.
How To Tell If You Have Mattress Bed Bugs
It is estimated that one in five Americans has personally experienced a bed bug infestation or knows someone who has.
Bed bugs can bite any part of the body where there is skin. As a rule, bites occur in areas that are exposed during sleep, for example:
Many people do not feel the bite itself or develop any distinct symptoms other than welts at the site of the bug bite and minor inflammation and irritation around the area. Others are considered hypersensitive to bites and develop more severe symptoms.
In most cases, symptoms appear more or less immediately after the bite, but may develop or progress over the next few days. Without further irritation, symptoms usually subside in about a week.
Flea Bites Vs Bed Bug Bites: Differences Explained
Almost all bed bug bites cause some discomfort, usually itching and inflammation. Other signs and symptoms of bed bug bites include:
Although it is quite rare, some people experience or develop severe reactions and symptoms from bed bug bites. Serious symptoms that require medical attention include:
A sudden immune response can be a sign of an allergic reaction. If so, you may need to do one of the following:
Intense itching can lead to further complications such as infection or scarring. If itching is severe, people may be prescribed corticosteroid creams and antihistamine tablets or liquid.
Flea Bites Vs Bed Bug Bites (key Differences Explained)
One way to help avoid exposure to bed bugs and potential bed bugs is to be able to identify bed bugs and differentiate them from other pests.
In a 2017 study, about 35 percent of American business travelers and 28 percent of tourists surveyed could not tell a bed bug apart from other household pests.
Nymphs are easier to tell if they have just fed, as blood fills their abdomen, giving it a reddish-brown color.
Adult bed bugs are usually much easier to spot than nymphs. Recognizable signs of most adult bed bugs include:
Bed Bug Bites
On average, a female can lay at least 345 eggs in her lifetime. Egg-laying females often increase the volume and frequency of feeding to support their brood.
The key to preventing bed bug bites is to stop the insects from entering, feeding and breeding in the human environment.
During the day, bed bugs often seek shelter in cracks and crevices of furniture, floors, walls and mattresses.
The seams and folds of upholstered furniture can also be an ideal hiding place. Bed bugs are known to be stored in vacuum containers or units.
A Practical Guide To Bed Bug Prevention And Control For Property Managers And Tenants In Multi Family Housing Units
Insects tend to choose hiding places near people’s sleeping areas, including bedrooms. Bed bugs found in other rooms are usually a sign of a serious infestation.
Finding bed bugs involves looking for the reddish-brown spots caused by their droppings and the clear skin shed by the nymphs as they mature.
However, they can be found at higher rates in places like hotels if infestations are not cleaned properly.
Washing bedding at high temperatures and checking hotel rooms for bed bugs can help prevent bed bug bites.
What Causes Bed Bugs And How To Identify And Get Rid Of Them
Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and only uses peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using third-party links. We cite primary sources, including research, scientific reports and statistics, in each article and list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure the accuracy and relevance of our content by reading our editorial policy. Medical Review: Claire Wightman MS, PAC, Dermatology, Medical Research — By S. Behring — Updated January 20, 2022
Bed bugs are small insects that feed on human or animal blood. Over-the-counter treatments can help relieve itching and inflammation.
Bed bugs are flat, oval shaped, reddish brown in color. They can live in bedding, furniture, carpet, clothing and other items and are most active at night.
Bed bugs don’t have wings, so they rely on animals or humans to carry them from one place to another. They usually come into your home after an overnight trip — hitchhiking with your luggage or clothes. Or they can enter your home if you bring in used furniture that is infested. They can also travel from one apartment to another if there is an infestation in the building or hotel.
Bed Bug Bites: What They Look Like, Treatments, Prevention Tips
Although bed bug bites are rarely dangerous, they can be very itchy. In some cases, they become infected or cause an allergic reaction.
Keep reading to learn about bed bug bites, what they look like, how to treat and prevent them.
Bed bugs secrete a small amount of anesthetic before they feed on humans, so you won’t feel it when they bite you. Sometimes it can take several days for bed bug bite symptoms to appear.
Some people never develop noticeable symptoms from bed bug bites. According to Pest Control Technology, about 30 to 60 percent of people never develop a reaction to a bed bug bite. When symptoms do appear, the bites are usually:
Bed Bug Bites: Pictures, Symptoms, Treatment, And Prevention
Bed bugs can bite any part of the body. However, they usually bite areas of skin that are exposed during sleep. This goes for your face, neck, arms and hands. If you usually wear pajamas to bed, the bug will bite along the clothing line.
Bed bugs don’t always feed every night. In fact, they can go without food for several weeks. This may seem like a good thing, but it can be hard to notice that you have bed bugs in your home. In fact, it may take a few weeks to realize that the bites are part of a bigger plan. And this is problematic because bed bugs can reproduce very quickly. The female can lay eggs every 3-4 days.
In addition to over-the-counter medications, there are several home remedies that can help relieve the symptoms of bed bug bites. Try one or more of the following actions.
There have been isolated cases of systemic allergic reaction to bed bug bites, although rare. Reactions usually included urticaria, asthma and rarely anaphylaxis.
What Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like?
In addition, constant scratching of lesions caused by bed bug bites can lead to secondary infections such as ringworm, folliculitis or cellulitis. To reduce the risk of infection, wash the bites with soap and water and try not to scratch them.
If you suspect you have developed an infection or allergic reaction to a bed bug bite, see your doctor. Get emergency medical help if you experience any of the following after being bitten:
If you suspect your baby or child has been bitten by bed bugs, check the sheets, mattress, bed frame and surrounding boards for signs of bed bugs.
Washing bites with soap and water will help treat bites on your baby or child. For added relief, consider using a cold compress or over-the-counter anti-itch creams or low-dose steroids. Be sure to keep your child’s nails short so they can’t scratch the skin.
No See Um Bites Vs. Bed Bug Bites
Talk to your child’s doctor or pharmacist before using topical steroid creams or oral antihistamines to treat bites. Some medicines can be dangerous for babies or young children.
If your child is old enough to understand your instructions, ask them not to scratch the bites. Clipping your child’s nails and covering bites with a bandage can also help prevent scratching.
If you suspect bed bugs in your home, look for signs of bed bugs in your bed and other places. They usually hide during the day in:
Bed bugs usually live near where people sleep in the house. This is because bed bugs are attracted to body heat and carbon dioxide. They usually don’t go into other rooms unless people are sleeping there. Bed bugs usually feed from midnight to dawn and then hide during the day in the same place they were before the bite.
How To Detect Bed Bugs
You may not see the bugs themselves, but you may find drops of blood or small black dots of bug droppings on your bed. If you find bed bugs, call your landlord or a pest control company.
It is very difficult to find bed bugs if you do not have professional training. Most pest control companies do an inspection for free. If they find errors, they’ll usually give you a few options to fix them.
Remember that until you eliminate the infestation, do not visit someone else’s house or stay overnight in it
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