Bed Bug Bite Symptoms

" Bed bug bite symptoms are caused by an allergic reaction to salivary protein. Reactions can can vary from person to person. They can also get more severe each time a person is bitten. Some people show no reaction at all, while others can develop small red inflamed areas , large red wheals or blisters. The center of a bedbug bite where the puncture of the skin actually occurs is clear. All reactions usually itch. Symptoms that appear with 1 hour to 1 day resolve themselves in 3 to 4 days. Symptoms that appear in 1 to 14 days take 2 to 5 days to clear."

Bed bugs bite at each stage of their life cycle. Each feeding period lasts 3 to 15 minutes. The bedugs leave their hiding place and usually bite exposed skin areas such as the neck, legs and shoulders just before dawn. It is rare for bed bug bites to occur on the bottoms of the feet. If bites are limited to this area, the problem is usually scabies, which is caused by mites.

The typical reaction is a raised red round area 3/8 inch in diameter. Most bites itch. To help with itch either purchase an over the counter cream or you can purchase one made specifically to soothe skin bitten by bed bugs offered by All Stop.

If scratched, a secondary infection could set in from breaking the skin with a finger nail. If symptoms do not go away by themselves in several days, or if the reaction looks infected such as having puss or crusts, then see a Doctor for an anti-biotic cream or oral anti-biotic.

Bed Bug Bite Symptoms - Pattern

Bed bugs often bite in a row, which would follow the seam of a bed, a common hiding place for bedbugs. The papules seen below are a typical bite reaction.

bed bug bite sympoms
Picture of Bed Bug Bite Symptoms

Bed Bug Bite Reactions

Reactions can range from no reaction at all to blistering of the skin. A light skin reaction is known as a macule. The reaction depicted below occurred 1 hour after the skin was punctured by the bedbug.

pictures of bed bug bites

3MM Skin Reaction 1 Hour after BedBug Bite

Similar to the picture shown at the top of the page, bites occur in rows and can vary in size.

pictures bed bug bite
Source UNLV - Raised Bites

Rare Bed Bug Bite Symptoms

In people that are very allergic to the anesthetic/anticoagulant compounds in the saliva, blisters could form on the arm.

Picture of Blister Reaction to Bed Bug Bite

A chronic or severe allergic reaction could result in asthma, hives (urticaria) or in very rare cases anaphylaxis which results in difficulty breathing and possibly even death, although again, this is rare.

If repeatedly bitten by a large infestation, then a person can suffer from mild anemia, which is a low number of red blood cells. Symptoms include paleness, shortness of breath and feeling tired.

Killing Bedbugs in Your Home

Bed bugs are very difficult to remove from a home or apartment. Several types of products are needed to kill both the bedbugs and their eggs.

Professionals have an edge in that they know how to find the bedbug's hiding places and they have the experience, and possibly better chemical and non-chemical approaches. The downside is cost which can include a payment for an on site inspection ($50 - $100 - more if bedbug sniffing do is used) and payment for the treatment itself ($500 - $1000+).

If planning to do it yourself, and if you have patience and time, then a kit, such as the one offered by Dermisil for Bed Bugs is a cost effective approach. Kits, which cost approximately $160 contain a mattress safe spray for killing live bedbugs, a steamer to kill the eggs and fossil dust which will be sprinkled around the areas bed bug hide to kill any that were missed or from late hatching eggs that were not killed. Most kits also include zippered bed bug mattress covers which are used after treatment to trap any remaining bedbugs in the box spring and mattress. Studies show that 80% of bed bugs will appear in and around the bed.

For more information see our guide to killing bed bugs.