Bed Bug Bites
" Bed bug bites cause an allergic skin reaction in some people. The reaction looks like red puss filled bumps on the skin. Bed bugs do not transmit disease, so bug bites are more of an unpleasant source of discomfort. Treatment for most people is as simple as treating any itch and letting the body heal itself. In severe cases the bugs cause hives and welts. Reactions can appear days after you are bitten. "
A Bed bug will bite in order to feed on the blood of a human host. A single bug may bite several times in one place on the body. If the bugs are hidden in a specific hiding place and your body comes in contact with where they are hidden, such as a seam in the bed, then that area that comes in contact with the seam will be filled with bites.
When a bedbug bites, the host will feel a light pinch if anything. When the bug bites they transfer saliva into the human or animal host. Different people will have a wide range of allergic reactions to the bite. This includes a minimal reaction to something more severe. Over time, the body tends to have a stronger reaction.
You are more likely to not feel the actual bite, but feel the "itch" or allergic reaction your body has to the bite.
When Bed Bug Bites Occur
Bed bugs prefer to bite at night or just before dawn. They avoid sunlight when possible.
How a BedBug Bites
A bed bug has two tubes on its mouth which are inserted into the host. One of the two tubes inserts saliva into the host and the other draws blood. Feeding lasts for approximately 5 minutes. A bed bug prefers to feed on blood every 5 to 10 days, but can last up to a year without feeding.
What BedBug Bites Look Like
Bedbug bites can look like the bites of other insects such as mosquitoes, spiders and chiggers and also look like the marks caused by several diseases such as chicken pox.
The bites take on different forms based on the reaction. It could look like a circle or "wheal" or a series of small blisters. There are certain bite characteristics that help you distinguish between bed bug bites and other causes:
- Itch: bed bugs bites usually itch
- Location: bed bugs usually bite on exposed areas such as the arms, neck and even the shoulders. They do not tend to bite on the bottom of the feed (this can be scabies)
- Pattern: clusters of bites can be in a line or a triangle
- Appearance: the bites are not red at the center, but in a wheal around the bite. The area of the bite can be swollen.
Picture of Bed Bug Bites
Picture Bed Bug Bites on Arm
Picture Bedbug Bites - Wheal Shaped Reaction
Bed Bug Bites Symptoms
Some, actually most people are not allergic to bedbug bites and will show no skin reaction. Others will have a reaction 1 hour to 2 days later. It is even possible to have the first reaction 2 weeks later.
The usual reaction is skin welts, bumps and in some cases, the skin form blisters that contain puss. Hives can also form that when measured can be up to 8 inches. It is rare for a more severe allergic reaction called anaphylactic shock, where the airway can become constricted and even cause death.
Bed Bug Bites Diagnosis
The bed bug bite looks like the bites of other insects such as scabies and lice and fleas.
Bed Bug Bites Treatment
For most people, bedbug bites do not need to be treated. Itch should go away in 1 to 3 days with the use of an anti-itch cream like cortisone. If the reaction to the bed bugs looks like it is severe then see a Doctor. Do not scratch the ares bitten in order to avoid infection. You could also try a herbal itch relief cream like Itch Dr. The key is to help the itch, use a cream to calm the skin and then treat any infection with antibiotics if necessary.
If the allergic reaction is more severe then your Doctor might prescribe corticosteroids or antihistamines.
Killing Bedbugs in Your Home or Apartment
Bed bug bites will only end when they are removed from your home or apartment. Removing bedbugs is not easy, since they remain hidden in cracks until they come out at night. Multiple products are needed to remove both the bed bugs and their eggs. Basic needs include a mattress safe spray, hand steamer and fossil dust. The best prices are found in a kit such as the one offered by Dermisil for Bed Bugs .
Contact a Bed Bug Exterminator
A professional pest control company will of course know where
to look.
The best approach is to call in a bed bug pest control professional,
who has the knowledge and experience to do an inspection, assess the
extent of the bed bug problem and then recommend a treatment plan.
Follow
this link to find a qualified local bedbug exterminator near
you from our list of qualified experts. Please keep in mind
that if the bed bugs are not treated
correctly, insects missed will begin to multiply and the problem will
return. Don't use a pest control company unless they have
extensive experience treating bed bugs.
Make sure the firm you select provides a guarantee since 2 to
3
treatments may be needed. it is easy to miss bedbug eggs
which
hatch after the initial treatment was completed. For more
information see our guide on getting
rid of bed bugs.
References
Harvard School of Public Health
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