Bed bugs are minuscule insects that consume human or animal blood as food. The itching and inflammation can be reduced with over-the-counter medications.
Bedbugs have an oval shape, are flat, and are a reddish-brown color. They are most active at night and can live in your bed, furniture, carpet, clothes, and other possessions.
Bedbugs cannot fly, so they can only be moved from one place to another by people or animals. They typically enter your house through your luggage or clothing after an overnight trip. Perhaps they may enter your home if you bring in discarded, infested furniture. If a building or hotel has an infestation, they can also move from one apartment to the next.
Bedbug bites can be extremely itchy even though they are rarely dangerous. They can sometimes spread an infection or trigger an allergic reaction.
Learn more about bedbug bites in the paragraphs that follow, including how to treat and avoid them.
What are the appearances of bedbugs and bedbug bites?
bed bug bite signs and symptoms
You won’t feel a bedbug bite because they excrete a tiny amount of anesthetic before feeding on humans.The signs of a bedbug bite might take a few days to manifest.
Some people who are bitten by bedbugs never experience any noticeable symptoms. A bedbug bite can cause no reaction in between 30 and 60% of people, according to Pest Control Technology. Instances of the bites that frequently cause symptoms are:
Each bite is red, swollen, and has a dark spot in the center; they may also resemble welts or hives. The bites are arranged in lines or clusters, and there are itchy, burning blisters filled with fluid on each bite.
Additionally, blood stains from scratching might be present on the sheets.
Bug bites can bleed or become infected if they are scratched.
Find out more about the signs of an infected insect bite.
Bedbug bites happen where on the body?
You can get a bedbug bite anywhere on your body. They typically bite exposed skin areas while you sleep, though. This includes your hands, arms, neck, and face. The bug will bite along the line of your clothing if you usually wear pajamas to bed.
Do bedbugs bite every night?
Bedbugs don’t always eat at the same time every night. They are capable of going for long periods without eating. Although it might sound like a good thing, it might be harder to detect bedbugs in your home. The fact that the bites are a part of a larger pattern might not even become apparent for a few weeks. And that presents a problem because bedbugs can grow in number very quickly. Each three to four days, a female can lay eggs.
How should bedbug bites be treated?
Bites from bedbugs typically disappear in 1 to 2 weeks. As a symptom reliever, you can:
To reduce swelling and itching, apply an over-the-counter or prescription steroid cream.
Use an oral antihistamine to decrease the burning and itching.
In order to reduce pain and swelling, use an over-the-counter painkiller.
To lessen itching before bed, take a Benadryl or ask a doctor to prescribe a stronger antihistamine.
A number of natural remedies can help ease bedbug bite symptoms in addition to over-the-counter medicines. Implement any of the following tactics:
A thin paste of baking soda and water, an ice pack, or a cold cloth wrapped in a towel
Bedbug bites can cause allergic reactions and infections.
There have been isolated case reports of systemic allergic responses to bedbug bites, despite their rarity. Hives, asthma, and anaphylaxis were among the more common reactions.
Additionally, persistently scratching bedbug bite lesions can result in secondary infections like impetigo, folliculitis, or cellulitis. Wash the bites with soap and water to lower the chance of infection, and avoid scratching them.
Contact your doctor if you think you might have an infection or an allergic reaction to a bedbug bite. If you experience any of the following symptoms after being bitten, seek immediate medical attention:
- numerous hives
- breathing issues
- wheezing
- swollen mouth or throat fever chills
- dizziness
- sconfusion
How should bedbug bites on a baby be treated?
Check your baby or child’s sheets, mattress, bed frame, and nearby baseboards for evidence of bedbugs if you think they may have been bitten.
Bedbug bites on your baby or child can be treated by washing the areas with soap and water. Applying a cold compress, over-the-counter itch creams, or low-strength steroids may provide further relief. The baby’s nails should be kept short to prevent skin irritation.
Before applying oral antihistamines or topical steroid creams to the bites, consult your child’s doctor or pharmacist. Some drugs might not be suitable for infants or young children.
Ask your child to refrain from scratching the bites if they are old enough to understand what you are asking of them. Trimming your child’s nails and bandaging the bites may also help to prevent scratching.
How can you tell if your home has bedbugs?
Check your bed and other areas for evidence of bedbugs if you think your house has them. Typically, they skulk during the day in:
- cracks or crevices in houses
- walls
- walls
- bedclothes
- bedclothes
- baseboards,
- bedsprings, and bed frames
- electrical switch plates with loose or peeling wallpaper conduits for electrical cables
- sofas (if a person is using the sofa to sleep on) (if a person is using the sofa to sleep on)
Bedbugs typically reside in areas of a home that are close to bedrooms. Bedbugs are drawn to body heat and carbon dioxide for this reason. If no one is sleeping in a room, they typically don’t move there. Typically, bedbugs feed from dusk until dawn before hiding during the day in the same location where they were before biting.
Although you might not see the bugs themselves, you might find blood stains or tiny black specks of bug feces in your bed. Call your landlord or a pest control company if you discover bedbugs.
Unless you’re specially trained to do so, it’s very challenging to find bedbugs. The majority of pest control businesses offer free inspections. If bedbugs are discovered, they will typically give you a number of options for getting rid of them.
Always keep in mind that visiting or staying at someone else’s home or hotel may spread the pests to that location, so avoid doing so until the infestation has been eradicated.
preventing bedbug bites
Bedbugs move from one location to another by concealing themselves in objects like furniture, clothing, blankets, and luggage. Without food, bedbugs can survive for several months. Due to this, it is simple to unintentionally introduce bedbugs into your home.
You can take the following actions to help prevent bedbugs:
- When returning home, travelers who have been exposed to bedbugs or are concerned about bedbugs should use mechanical methods to decontaminate their luggage, clothes, and belongings (brushing, vacuuming, heating, washing, or freezing).
- When traveling, always use luggage racks to keep your belongings off the ground and away from hotel furniture.
- When you get home from a trip, keep your suitcase away from your bed, and dry your clothes in the dryer before putting them away.
- When traveling, pack your clothes in vacuum-sealed bags.
- When you get back from your trip, put anything that can’t be washed in a plastic bag and store it there for a few weeks.
- If you travel frequently, you can purchase a gadget that will heat your luggage to a temperature that will eradicate any bedbugs.
- Before bringing any used furniture, linen, or clothing into your house, look for bedbug traces.
- Transport your laundry in plastic bags if you use a communal laundry room, and save the folding for when you get home.
Takeaway
Bedbugs are teeny, blood-feeding insects. They reside inside your home’s furnishings and other objects. Humans and other animals can get bitten by bedbugs. The initial bite won’t hurt, but it may leave behind a line or cluster of itchy, red bumps.
Bedbugs can travel by concealing themselves in electronics, clothing, furniture, bed linen, and travel bags. The majority of bites will naturally heal in a week or so. Bedbug bites can be treated with soap, water, and soothing lotions. Bedbug bites occasionally become infected and require medical attention.
Once they’ve entered your home, bedbugs can be challenging to get rid of. To find and eliminate the bedbugs, you’ll probably need the assistance of a pest control company.
Visit a doctor or dermatologist for a diagnosis and treatment advice if you are unsure of what kind of rash or bites you have.