Bed Bugs or Not?

by Trice
(Missouri)

My family had to leave our home in Dallas, Tx and came to stay with family In Missouri. Our things are in storage and the only things we have with us is our clothing. My daughter began to develope these itch bumps on her arms, back, legs and stomach. I took her to the doctor and he says that the bumps were scabies, but we have done the treatment for scabies going on the 3rd week and still no relief for her. There are other children in the house but one else seems to be affected but my daughter. I have noticed that the mattresses that the kids are sleeping on are really old and worn, but my daughter is the only one with what appears to be bite marks. How can I know for sure?

Editor Response

Hi Trice,

I am very sorry to hear that your daughter is going through this discomfort, especially during such a stressful time for your family. While I cannot offer medical advice, I can tell you that it is actually quite common for only one person in a household to show signs of bed bug bites. People react differently to the saliva injected during a bite; some have severe allergic reactions with itchy bumps, while others may be bitten but show no marks at all. This could explain why the other children seem unaffected.

Since the scabies treatment has not provided relief after three weeks, it is definitely worth investigating the sleeping area for bed bugs. To know for sure, you need to inspect the mattress she is sleeping on, paying close attention to the seams, tufts, and folds. You are looking for live insects (about the size of an apple seed), shed skins, or small black fecal spots that look like a marker dot. If you find these signs, you likely have an infestation that requires treatment.

Best of Luck,
Jeff
Publisher, Bed Bugs Handbook