Bed bugs are experts at hiding. Their slim flat bodies allow them to fit into the smallest of spaces and stay there for long periods of time, even without a blood meal. Bed bugs are usually transported from place to place as people travel.
The bed bugs travel in the seams and folds of luggage, overnight bags, folded clothes, bedding, furniture, and anywhere else where they can hide.
Most people do not realize they are transporting stow-away bed bugs as they travel from location to location, infecting areas as they travel. Everyone is at risk for getting bed bugs when visiting an infected area. However, anyone who travels frequently and shares living and sleeping quarters where other people have previously slept has a higher risk of being bitten and or spreading a bed bug infestation. Bed bug bites usually do not pose a serious medical threat.
The best way to treat a bite is to avoid scratching the area and apply antiseptic creams or lotions and take an antihistamine. Bed bug infestations are commonly treated by insecticide spraying. If you suspect that you have an infestation, contact your landlord or professional pest control company that is experienced with treating bed bugs.
The best way to prevent bed bugs is regular inspection for the signs of an infestation. This information is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care provider.
If you have any questions about the parasites described above or think that you may have a parasitic infection, consult a health care provider. Contact Us. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Bed bugs can bite anywhere on the body where there is skin. Typically, bites tend to occur on areas exposed during sleeping, such as:. Many people do not feel the bite itself or develop clear symptoms other than the dots where the bug bit and some minor, surrounding inflammation and irritation.
Others are considered hypersensitive to bites and develop more severe symptoms. In most cases symptoms occur more or less immediately after the bite, but they can develop or progress over the following days as well. Without further irritation, symptoms typically resolve after a week or so.
Almost all bed bug bites will produce some degree of discomfort, typically itchiness and inflammation. Other signs and symptoms of bed bug bites include:.
While fairly rare, some people have or develop severe reactions and symptoms from bed bug bites. Serious symptoms that require medical attention include:. The first recommended line of treatment involves cleaning the wound, ideally with soap and water. If severe swelling, inflammation, or itchiness occurs or persists, a person should seek medical attention. A dramatic immune response may be a sign of an allergic reaction. If this is the case, one of the following may need to be administered:.
If infection occurs, antibiotics may be prescribed. Severe itchiness may result in further complications, such as infection or scarring. If severe itching is experienced, people may be prescribed corticosteroid creams and antihistamine pills or liquid.
One way to help prevent exposure and potential infestations by bed bugs is to be able to recognize bed bugs and distinguish them from other pests. In a study , some 35 percent of polled American business travellers and 28 percent of leisure travellers were unable to tell a bed bug apart from other household pests.
The nymphs are easier to see if they have just feed when the blood fills their abdomen, giving it a reddish brown color. Adult bed bugs are typically far easier to spot than nymphs. Identifiable characteristics of most adult bed bugs include:. On average, one female can produce at least eggs over 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 entering, feeding, and breeding in human environments.
Progressive swelling, warmth, tenderness, and in rare cases fever may be symptoms of a secondary infection. How long does it take for you to know you have bed bugs? Bugs take about a week to hatch. Can bed bugs bite through clothes? Where do bed bugs usually bite? Can you feel when a bed bug bites you? How long do bed bug bites last? Bed bug bites last two weeks or more.
People who are more sensitive to bites may take up to three weeks to completely heal. If an infestation occurs, new bites may accumulate even as the older ones disappear. How do I keep bed bugs from biting me? As the name suggests, bed bugs love the warmth of your bed as much as you do.
Clean your sheets, bed, pillows, and mattress once a week. Leave your sheets out in the sun. Bed bugs hate hot places, and they will want to escape the heat. Does alcohol kill bugs? Alcohol can kill existing eggs and bugs. Spraying some alcohol will prevent be bugs from returning to their new abode.
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